Seven Days, October 8, 2025 by Seven Days

Wildbranch Cider, Barr Hill

BEST PRICES - LARGEST SELECTION IN BURLINGTON

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That’s how many stores Vermont-based outdoor and angling company Orvis plans to close next year, VTDigger reported.

CLEANING AGENTS

State o cials have started treating Lake Carmi with an aluminum compound that could help reduce cyanobacteria blooms. The drought has helped, too.

BRAWNY BEAUTY

TOPFIVE

SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN

As the high-stakes standoff that shut down the federal government drags on into a second week, Vermont’s Congressional delegation joined the chorus of Democrats who say they are ﬁghting to preserve affordable health care.

“In this moment, this really pivotal moment in American history, when working-class people are struggling, when we are moving under Trump toward an authoritarian society, Democrats must hold the line,” U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a video over the weekend. U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) made similar statements.

e shutdown began October 1 and has furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal employees and shuttered some agencies.

President Donald Trump, who has threatened mass ﬁrings, met with Congressional leaders last week. But

there have been no major developments since, and both sides appear entrenched.

Democratic leaders say they cannot support any GOP spending plan until they receive concessions on health care. ey are especially concerned about the pending expiration of Obamacare subsidies, which have helped tamp down premiums for millions of Americans — including 30,000 Vermonters who receive a combined $65 million in assistance.

Some could see their premiums more than double next year, and many may choose to forgo insurance, risking both their health and ﬁnances.

“ is is going to drive up costs for everyone,” Balint said last week.

Republicans say they’re willing to negotiate but only after the government reopens.

Such assurances aren’t good enough for Welch, who held a press conference on Monday outside

Handy’s Lunch in Burlington. He noted that people will begin signing up for insurance plans in the coming weeks.

“President Trump has directed the Republicans to not even talk to us,” Welch said. “When we have disputes, as we do in Congress about a policy difference, the only way to resolve them is by talking about them and ﬁnding that common ground.”

A compromise shouldn’t be hard to reach, either, Welch said, because the subsidies beneﬁt people in red and blue states alike.

In Sanders’ video, he directly challenged Republicans to “go home to your districts and stand up and be proud and tell people you voted to double their health insurance premiums — see how they respond.”

“What we are ﬁghting for is not just right, it is what the American people want,” Sanders said.

Read Colin Flanders’ full story at sevendaysvt.com.

WARNING SIGNS

Vermont’s privately provided Medicare Advantage marketplace has collapsed, meaning most seniors have access only to traditional Medicare. Uh-oh.

AIR SUPPORT

A helicopter scooped up water from Lake Iroquois to dump on a wildﬁre that started on a mountain in Williston. Luckily, the small blaze was contained.

3. “Burlington Mayor’s Ofﬁce to Lose ree Key Staffers” by Courtney Lamdin. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s deputy chief of staff and advisers on public safety and homelessness are moving on.

4. “Pizzeria Verità Co-Owner to Open Italian Café and Shop in Burlington” by Melissa Pasanen. Leslie McCrorey Wells will launch Alimentari on St. Paul Street in downtown Burlington later this fall.

5. “A Modular Home in Morrisville Has a Small Footprint With Big Payoffs” by Amy Lilly. Initially resistant to modular building, Sally Stetson and Peter Dodge custom-designed a house they say is comfortable, efﬁcient and a savvy investment.

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

U.S. Border Patrol, ICE Detain Nine Individuals Federal ofﬁcials detained nine people in the Hardwick area last month, the Hardwick Gazette reported. At least one was later released, while immigration ofﬁcials were reportedly moving others to out-of-state detention facilities. All nine worked for the same construction company.

PACKAGE DEAL

ere’s no Amazon warehouse in Vermont, but Deena Frankel’s Burlington home is beginning to resemble one. Over the past eight weeks, she’s received more than two dozen packages from people around the country who are trying to return items they bought through the online retail giant.

Frankel has ﬁgured out why the packages are ending up on her porch — but has had trouble trying to stop them.

“ e whole thing has been so crazy,” Frankel said. “Amazon said they were going to do something about it, but they haven’t.”

All the returns are sequin-covered formalwear

ordered from YejuanShop, a Chinese-based thirdparty vendor on Amazon. According to Frankel, the company promises free shipping on returns, then reneges when customers try to get a mailing label. Instead, YejuanShop instructs the customers to address the returns to a nonexistent “Samantha Cole” at Frankel’s Pine Street address.

e Burlington resident has no clue what motivated the company to direct returns to her home.

“ ere are dozens of complaints online about this company for this return policy, and they just don’t do anything about it,” Frankel said.

Frankel asked the U.S. Postal Service to stop delivering them. But returns were still coming via UPS, she said. ey’ve ﬁnally slowed to a trickle in recent weeks.

Frankel has been in touch with YejuanShop and Amazon, both of which have promised to stop the practice. She’s also contacted some of those sending in the returns. One woman told Frankel that she hadn’t been reimbursed for the return — and was also out the cost of shipping. But the woman didn’t want the item back.

Frankel, who lamented the throwaway culture, has been donating the dresses and other items to Replays, a South Burlington resale shop where the proceeds beneﬁt the University of Vermont Medical Center.

“ is stuff has been selling like hotcakes,” she said. “I’ve dropped off a couple dozen items, and there were only two left on the rack.” SASHA GOLDSTEIN

Sen. Peter Welch at a press conference on Monday

DRAWING INTEREST.

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Sasha Goldstein

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

Hannah Bassett, Derek Brouwer, Colin Flanders, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Lucy Tompkins

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

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

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Bryan Parmelee

Eva Sollberger

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron SALES & MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Marcy Stabile

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

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

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

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

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

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GOV AND MAYOR NEED TO WORK TOGETHER

SHELBURNE FARMS IS A ‘GIFT’

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the entire “bunch of crazy hippies” for having the foresight and fortitude to save Shelburne Farms [“A New Heyday: How Shelburne Farms Went From Gilded Age Estate to a Beacon of Sustainability Education,” September 17]. The lofty goal of educating “the public to recognize the wealth in natural, rural resources and to use that wealth for the satisfaction of individual and common human needs,” written in 1972 by a family of twentysomethings, could still be the mission of Shelburne Farms today. Simply amazing. And to share this property with all of us is such a gift.

TEACHING US ALL

We need Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak to be successful in her quest to make the city safer [“Tent City: Burlington Has More Homeless Encampments Than Ever. Two Men Are Tasked With Keeping Them Under Control,” August 13]. However, there are important factors she needs to consider if she is to make any noticeable progress, and Gov. Phil Scott must do his part and be willing to partner with the mayor [“Scott Vows to Help Burlington Amid Public Safety ‘Crisis,’” September 11, online].

Kathy Davis SOUTH BURLINGTON

It was with great pleasure that I read the article about the development of Shelburne Farms over the years [“A New Heyday,” September 17]. While serving as the superintendent of Burlington schools from 2005 to 2014, I became very familiar with Shelburne Farms, both as a participant in education trainings it o ered and, later, as a collaborator in the development of the Sustainability Academy in Burlington, for which Shelburne Farms was the major leader.

The impact Shelburne Farms has had on educators globally, and thus on children, is immeasurable. This gem of a farm that focuses on sustainability, education and the future must be celebrated and supported.

Jeanne Collins Deweese SHELBURNE

ON EDITORS

[Re From the Publisher: “Love Letter to the Editors,” September 17]: As a former newspaper editor, I learned two things about the job from editors who came before me. First, the relationship between an editor and writer is like that of a mongoose and a snake; and second, that news is whatever editors say it is.

Bob Bennett SHELBURNE

First, the mayor has asked people to “combat the narrative” that the homeless “pose an inherent risk to others.” That’s not possible, because any perceived risk is in the eyes of others and not for the mayor to judge how they might feel. Mulvaney-Stanak needs to be honest about the real fear created by the homeless population and the impact that it has on businesses, residents and visitors.

Second, Scott understands that Chittenden County is the economic engine of Vermont, and dealing with homeless individuals, many of whom have come to Burlington, is the state’s business, too. The governor must act with a sense of urgency and engage in constructive discussions with the mayor to get the critical work started.

Finally, we need to combat another narrative: that Burlington is isolated from Montpelier with an unsupportive governor and is an unsafe city in economic decline that provides a “safe harbor” for the homeless. The mayor and the governor must take bold, politically risky and expensive action steps to address the overwhelming issue of public safety not just for the struggling homeless but for the rest of us, as well. We cannot afford to delay the inevitable any longer.

John Bossange SOUTH BURLINGTON

CHAVARRIA IS IMPRESSIVE

Kudos to Winooski School District superintendent Wilmer Chavarria [“Put to the Test,” September 24]! He has overcome adversity throughout his life and manages to stand for justice for all in the world of

education. Not an easy job! Thank you, Seven Days, for reporting this important and timely article.

Trudy Boardman NORTHFIELD

NOTHING ‘NEUTRAL’ ABOUT IT

[Re “Five Vermont Lawmakers Join Israel-Funded Trip,” September 22, online]: When I learned that five of our state reps went to genocide-committing Israel, and Israel paid for it, I wondered how they thought it would be neutral. I wanted to ask them if they went to the border where Israeli families come to destroy all the food aid off the trucks? Or did they get to talk to the Western doctors who over and over report children being shot in the head and heart? Or did they visit the illegal settlements where they poison sheep and cement over Palestinian wells? Or did they visit an Israeli school where the songs they teach are about killing Arabs? Oh, pardon me, at some point this will all be labeled antisemitic, which it is not! Watch for H.310, everyone. This bill will make anything critical of Israel antisemitic, which is so wrong. It is conflating Zionism with Judaism. How can a trip paid for by the perpetrators of a genocide and ethnic cleansing be taken at their word? I wish we had reps like the one in Ohio who publicly canceled her trip after hearing from constituents about the harm it would have done.

Too bad our reps didn’t inform their constituents so we could have weighed in. Free Palestine!

Sally Lincoln NORTH FERRISBURGH

A VOTE FOR GENOCIDE

[Re “Five Vermont Lawmakers Join Israel-Funded Trip,” September 22, online]: Three weeks ago, as the Israeli army intensified its genocidal ground offensive on the nearly 1 million civilians sheltering in Gaza City, Vermont state Rep. Matt Birong (D-Addison) sat in business class on his way to Israel for an all-expenses-paid vacation funded by the Netanyahu government. Birong was wined, dined and hosted by an organization tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in a deliberate attempt to curry favor for Israel’s genocidal actions and apartheid policies.

AIPAC’s financial investment in Birong over the past several years has paid off.

Last year Birong wrote to the selectboard of Ferrisburgh and the city council of Vergennes, instructing them not to allow their citizens to vote on the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge. Using official legislative letterhead, he said asking towns to divest from industries

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MINUTES FROM BURLINGTON,

MILES FROM ORDINARY

JUST A SHORT DRIVE from downtown Burlington and the University of Vermont, The Village at Autumn Pond offers more than a home—it offers a way of life. Nestled among maples, birch, and beech trees, our tranquil community lets you trade noise for birdsong and traffic for rustling leaves.

The Benefits of Sharing Your Home

Wildbranch Cider and Barr Hill team up for an annual harvest tradition

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Trips Without a Trace Vermont’s lawmakers don’t have to disclose when they accept free travel. After a controversial junket to Israel, some say that should change.

ICE Plans to Surveil Social Media From a Vermont O ce Tag, Who’s It?

Burlington city ofﬁcials have few strategies to crack down on unsightly grafﬁti

Gauging the Drought’s Ongoing Impact on Humans and Wildlife

Chain Reactions

A retired Bethel couple gravel biked through every town in Vermont and created a free online guide for others to follow

His Story

A new nonﬁction book gives remarkable insight into one Vermonter’s Civil War experience

Happy Landings

eater review: Come From Away, Northern Stage

Making Waves

Deb Fleischman brings an ocean of public art to Montpelier

Fruiting Bodies

Rachel Portesi explores connection and mortality through mushrooms

Middlebury Student Curators Make Enlightenment Cool Again

Find a new job in the classiﬁeds section on page 74 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

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.

See What’s Next.

Introduce yourself to reps from these ﬁne local organizations at Tech Jam!

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FRIDAY, OCT. 17, 12:30-1:30 P.M.

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MAGNIFICENT

SATURDAY 11

THEY LIVE

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY

REBECCA DRISCOLL

ey’re baaaaaack! After a 10-year hiatus, Return of the Zombie Walk reanimates Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace with grave-defying entertainment. e costume-clad, corn syrup bloodsoaked scene begins at city hall with undead photo ops, followed by an apocalyptic group trek up the bricks in search of one thing and one thing only: brains!

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

FRIDAY 10

Queen of the Hill

Don’t love an oligarchy? How about a “Choligarchy”? Grammy- and Emmy-nominated comedian, actor and musician Margaret Cho ignites knee-slapping laughter with her legendary brand of standup at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. Cho’s indefatigable presence in the pop culture zeitgeist has secured her spots on such enviable lists as Vogue’s “20 of the Funniest Female Comedians of All Time.”

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 57

SATURDAY 11

Flavor Town

e Vermont Food + Music Festival transforms the Ascutney Outdoors Center in Brownsville into a mecca of culture and culinary delights. e jubilant affair nods to the fruits of musicians, farmers, chefs and makers, shining a light on the best of the state’s creative and agricultural communities. ough he ain’t no Yankee, festivalgoers welcome Grammynominated headliner Brent Cobb with open arms.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

SUNDAY 12

Don’t

Fear the Reaper

Kentucky garage-punk band White Reaper blow the lid off Higher Ground in South Burlington with an amp-shaking performance of tunes from their four-album canon. Since forming in 2012, the group has faced lineup and label upheaval, creative drought, and burnout, yet it continues to rise above the noise by, well, bringing the noise.

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 55

SUNDAY 12

Happy Feet

After winning over audiences at the Made Here and Middlebury New Filmmakers festivals, MacPherson Christopher and Paul Rosenfeld’s documentary “La Liga” comes to Burlington’s Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center. e award-winning short follows immigrant dairy farmworkers in rural Vermont who overcome adversity, build community and ﬁnd joy on the soccer ﬁeld.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63

WEDNESDAY 15

Why Women Kill

What does it take to spin a web of intrigue, secrets and alibis? e Women in Mystery panel at Phoenix Books in Burlington takes a forensic look at the research required to craft a unputdownable whodunit. Vermont authors Trish Esden, Katy Farber and Kara Lacey share the spotlight at this illuminating dialogue about the inspiration for their gripping page-turners.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

ONGOING

Practical Magic

Bennington Museum’s special exhibit “Green Mountain Magic: Uncanny Realism in Vermont” explores the magic realism art movement as it was practiced in the state in the mid- to late 20th century. Viewers can expect extraordinary works by artists who — unlike their contemporaries practicing surrealism — found the fantastical in life’s mundane moments.

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Fresh Eyes

From my house on Lakeview Terrace, I can see a homeless encampment on the Burlington waterfront that is growing larger every day. Since the height of summer, one sole tent on the western edge of the North 40 urban reserve has become a cluster of what looks like a dozen.

Our friends visiting from Miami noticed it, too, but they were happily distracted by the October sun slipping behind the Adirondacks and the gold and pink afterglow in the sky that lingered for almost an hour.

Two days after we watched the sunset with Chuck and Soraya, our backyard was occupied again — this time with neighbors for the annual Lakeview Terrace “cider social.”

the Colchester Causeway

Chuck Strouse and his wife, Soraya, biking on

While the crowd was mingling, someone noticed a fire in the encampment below and called 911 — alarmed, no doubt, by how quickly flames could catch in the historic drought Vermont is experiencing.

I first met Chuck Strouse in 2013, when he was editor-in-chief of the Miami New Times — then one of the hardest-hitting newspapers in the Association of Alternative Newsmedia; he had that job for 20 years. Now a professor at Florida International University and assistant director of its new Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media, he was in town last week for a conference on student journalism convened by the University of Vermont’s Center for Community News.

DESPITE ITS CHALLENGES, BURLINGTON CAN STILL TURN ON THE CHARM.

When he wasn’t working, Chuck and his wife, Soraya, wanted to see Vermont — and, of course, the foliage — so he reached out to me in advance for recommendations. The airport had sold out of rental cars, so the Strouses explored the city on foot. While Chuck was walking back and forth from the Courtyard by Marriott to the UVM Alumni House, Soraya was on board the Spirit of Ethan Allen cruise ship and eating at Henry’s Diner. They borrowed our car and hiked to the top of Mount Hunger, rented bikes and cycled the causeway, and got lucky with a last-minute reservation at Honey Road.

Simply put, these world-traveling Floridians couldn’t get enough of the place — and their visit also happened to coincide with the most perfect stretch of fall weather in recent memory. Their obvious delight served as a reminder: While longtime residents like myself can’t stop comparing Burlington to the cleaner, more economically robust burg it once was, those seeing the Queen City for the first time don’t know the difference.

The same goes for the students who attend Champlain College and the University of Vermont. If I ever groaned at the sight of a new class heading down the hill for a night on Church Street, now I feel grateful for their young, open minds. Despite its challenges, such as the persistent graffiti that Courtney Lamdin writes about in this week’s issue, Burlington can still turn on the charm. Viewed through fresh, unjaundiced eyes, it remains a shining little city on a hill.

A handful of us watched as a fire truck drove slowly along the dirt service road by the railroad tracks. Then two firefighters with flashlights set out on foot across the tent-dotted land, presumably to find the blaze. At that point, we could see that it had either been extinguished or gone out.

The drama prompted a lively conversation. More than a few people asked me: “Does the city have a plan?” as if I should know. One proposed moving the entire population of homeless campers to North Beach for the winter. In that location, at least there would be paved access roads and proper facilities. It worked during the pandemic.

Burlington’s urban sounds keep me up at night, especially barking dogs and super-loud motorbikes racing and burning rubber on the waterfront. But in the wee hours of Monday morning, it was a smell — of smoke — that woke me. I got out of bed and looked around but couldn’t see a source. Just after sunrise, I woke again to a woman screaming in what sounded like some kind of domestic dispute.

In the dawn’s early light, I tried to channel Chuck and Soraya and their touristic positivity. By then, they were out of here, on a plane, heading home.

Paula Routly

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COURTESY

Trips Without a Trace

Vermont’s lawmakers don’t have to disclose when they accept free travel. After a controversial junket to Israel, some say that should change.

BY HANNAH BASSETT • hbassett@sevendaysvt.com

Late last month, some Vermonters were dismayed to learn that five representatives had recently traveled to Israel as that country’s guests, even as the state’s federal delegation joined a growing chorus of leaders accusing Israel of waging a genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people.

The representatives and 245 other state lawmakers from around the country attended a conference that promised to o er an “in-depth exploration of Israel’s leadership, society, heritage and spirit of innovation,” according to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu headlined a slate of national leaders who addressed the attendees, and at least one government o cial urged the American legislators to pass laws barring boycotts, divestments or sanctions against the Jewish state. The ministry paid for the participants’ expenses: $6,500 per person.

Vermonters learned about the trip in part because a photograph of the representatives posing at a ceremonial tree planting in southern Israel circulated online after the foreign ministry shared it on social media.

If not for that, the trip might have gone unnoticed. Despite its high price tag and Israel’s effort to woo participants, neither Vermont’s lawmakers nor the foreign ministry were required to disclose anything about the trip or the gifts provided to make it possible, such as compensated airfare, hotel stays or meals. This is in stark contrast to disclosure requirements for campaign contributions or gifts from registered lobbyists, which

ICE Plans to Surveil Social Media From a Vermont Ofﬁce

BY LUCY TOMPKINS lucy@sevendaysvt.com

Federal immigration authorities plan to use an intel center based in Williston to expand surveillance of social media for immigration enforcement.

For years, Williston has been home to the National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center, where staffers dig up data to help immigration agents around the country ﬁnd, detain and deport undocumented immigrants. Federal contracting documents posted last week show that the center is looking to add at least a dozen analysts to scour social media posts and other online data to “enhance ICE’s mission and program efﬁciency.”

ough the plan is in its early stages, the proposal gives some insight into the ways President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown will be facilitated by an expansion of web and social media surveillance right in Burlington’s backyard.

In fiscal year 2023, the center investigated referrals of 4.6 million individuals. Staffers rapidly convert those investigations into dossiers to be shared with ICE field offices around the country.

According to the planning documents posted last week, ICE has had “limited success” in ﬁnding individuals without the use of open web sources and social media. e new Vermontbased analysts would be expected to search platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for information that could be used to aid ICE’s expanding enforcement efforts. eir work would continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For the highest-priority cases, such as those who pose a national security threat or have been convicted of serious crimes, analysts would be expected to process and provide intelligence within a matter of hours. But the contractor would be expected to collect data on anyone who meets “ICE enforcement priorities,” the documents show.

In some cases, analysts would also be expected to investigate a person’s family members, friends or coworkers as a means of locating the “target” of the operation. ➆

Tag, Who’s It?

Burlington city officials have few strategies to crack down on unsightly graffiti

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

In late September, nearly 100 people gathered to paint a brightly colored mural on the side of a Burlington building that for years has been a canvas for graffiti. By day’s end, cubes of orange, teal and lime spanned the brick facade at 266 Main Street, covering the illicit art.

Then overnight, someone defaced much of the new mural. The group rallied to cover it up, but the tagger returned

inside of a 12-hour period were sort of like, You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Graffiti has long been a source of frustration to locals and Burlington business owners, particularly in recent years as the problem has become more pronounced. Its prevalence, some believe, reinforces the perception that the Queen City is lawless and unwelcoming.

Vandals can be hit with a $500 fine, but officials have not made enforcement a priority. Residents have tried to pick up the slack by organizing mural projects and cleanup days, but those efforts come and go.

In short, while those concerned say the problem will take concerted team efforts to solve, Burlington still lacks a comprehensive plan to tackle tagging.

the following day. Those tags have since been removed, and police have released surveillance footage of the offender in an attempt to identify him.

“We live in a beautiful city, and there is this reality of some really tough dynamics that have entered, and that’s hard,” said Brian McVey, who helped paint the mural with his kids. “The highs and the lows

Residents need to “feel like there is something they can rely on, rather than feeling powerless, which is what we hear a lot from people right now,” said Sam Donnelly, executive director of the nonprofit Building Burlington’s Future. “It’s a shared responsibility.”

Graffiti is found across the city, even on some Old North End homes, but downtown is the hardest-hit area. Illegible scribbles are found on street signs and on businesses, both open and closed,

JANA QUALEY

Graffiti on the new mural at 266 Main Street

donors must report and are readily accessible for the public to review.

The notable disparity in disclosure practices leaves Vermonters without a clear understanding about what powerful forces might be shaping their lawmakers’ decision-making while in office. It also raises questions about how the legislature has created exceptions when it comes to its own transparency and accountability.

There is currently no way for the public to know who is paying for their state representatives and senators to fly around the world or across the country in their official capacity — or even how many sponsored trips Vermont legislators take in a given session.

Legislators are permitted to accept such gifts as long as they follow the state’s code of ethics, which sets boundaries for all public servants around conflicts of interest, gifts, the use of state employment for personal gain and more.

The ethics code provides a strong framework for legislators to determine whether to accept gifts such as airfare or hotel stays, but the policy lacks key measures to provide transparency or give it teeth, according to Christina Sivret, executive director of the State Ethics Commission.

“We really seem to be stalled at a point where the legislature is willing to pass laws but not move to the next step where there’s actual accountability in tandem with those laws,” Sivret said.

This year was the first time that Israel’s foreign ministry paid for Vermont state legislators to visit, according to the ministry. But state legislators have accepted money from other outside groups to attend numerous conferences and speaking engagements around the world this year and in previous legislative sessions, reporting by Seven Days has found.

Traveling beyond Vermont’s borders gives legislators the chance to study best practices and bring back ideas that might work here at home, said Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (P/D-Chittenden-Central), who estimates she is one of the body’s frequent fliers.

“Why would we re-create the wheel if there’s something that’s working and functioning really well somewhere else?” Vyhovsky asked.

Vyhovsky, who was sworn into the legislature in 2021, headed to five separate conferences or speaking engagements around the world this year thanks in part to funding from outside groups.

In March, the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign paid the senator’s lodging expenses in order for her to address the UK

Parliament in London about the shifting context of American-Ukrainian relations. While across the pond, Vyhovsky, who is of Ukrainian descent, traveled to Brussels to visit the European Parliament and give the opening address at a conference hosted by the European Network for Solidarity With Ukraine. The network covered her conference fee and meals; Vyhovsky paid for her round-trip airfare and lodging in Belgium.

While Vyhovsky was in Europe, the chair of the Vermont Republican Party, Paul Dame, alleged that Vyhovsky’s absence from the Senate delayed action on a bill to repeal the clean heat standard, one of the most significant environmental reforms the legislature has tackled in recent years. The Senate voted unani-

makers outside Vermont with helping to shape legislation in 2024 for the state’s first overdose-prevention center, planned for Burlington. When the legislature reconvenes next year, Vyhovsky hopes to introduce a social housing bill that will have elements drawn from one in Vienna, Austria, that she learned about with international policy makers.

Vyhovsky said she did not consult with the state ethics commission about accepting any of the funding assistance for the conference travels because she felt confident they were all within the bounds set by the state’s code of ethics. She was involved in drafting the legislature’s disclosure policy and had previously discussed rules with Senate leadership and legislative attorneys ahead

mously to postpone its vote on the legislation until the following week. The bill ultimately did not advance.

In June, after the legislature adjourned for the year, Vyhovsky traveled to Madrid as a guest of the Organization for Global Policy & Dialogue’s young leaders conference, where she delivered the keynote address on grassroots campaigning. The organization covered her lodging and conference fees. After that, she headed to Alaska on a trip paid for by the nonprofit National Conference of State Legislatures to participate in a summit on elections.

Her most recent trip, a two-week excursion to Ukraine in August to meet with national labor organizers, trade union leaders and a range of Ukrainian activists, was funded mostly from her own savings, with some help from friends and family in the U.S. Vyhovsky said a few of the Ukrainian organizers she met during her travels covered incidental expenses such as train tickets and meals.

Vyhovsky said it can be tricky to balance this travel with her work as a legislator and an independent social worker, but she has found the benefits to be worthwhile. She credits her relationships with policy

events are not eligible for reimbursement. In 2015, an investigative report by Atlanta’s NBC affiliate showed then-representative Bob Helm talking with lobbyists at a Savannah conference hosted by the American Legislative Exchange Council. In the video report, which detailed the council’s role in drafting and promoting state legislation friendly to its corporate sponsors, Helm is shown describing how lobbyists indirectly pay for legislators’ participation.

In the Senate, lawmakers can get up to $1,500 in reimbursements to apply to conference costs as they see fit. To receive the taxpayer funds, however, the senators must track and submit their expenses for approval.

During the 2023-24 biennium, legislators spent just over $50,000 on conference-related expenses with taxpayer funds, according to data released by the Joint Fiscal Office, home to the Statehouse’s professional financial analysts. The data, tracked by each member’s reimbursement request, show that the bulk of funding went to airfare and lodging. No member of the legislature accrued more than $4,000 in conference-related expenses.

This spending pales in comparison to the figures foreign governments and outside groups are estimated to spend to bring Vermont’s lawmakers to conferences. For example, the Israeli government spent $32,000 for Vermont’s five representatives to participate in its September event, according to the foreign ministry’s estimates.

of a trip she took to Cuba organized by the Democratic Socialists of America in 2023.

Sivret, the commission’s director, said her panel typically receives only a few inquiries from legislators each year. Most legislators don’t check about taxpayerfunded trips, Sivret said, because those trips are closely tracked and are unlikely to be considered gifts under the state ethics code.

In the House, representatives can request funding through the speaker’s office to cover conferences costs, said Conor Kennedy, chief of staff to House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington).

Kennedy said the speaker’s office has largely limited reimbursements to events hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments and a handful of other nonprofit organizations with reputations for nonpartisan work.

Last month, the National Conference of State Legislatures covered Krowinski’s expenses to participate in its leadership symposium in Iceland. Kennedy said the speaker tries to attend at least one of those annually.

Lawmakers can participate in conferences held by partisan organizations, but the

Rep. Sarah “Sarita” Austin (D-Colchester), one of those reps, said she was surprised by the negative reactions. Austin felt some people misunderstood why she and the other representatives chose to go but acknowledged the lack of public disclosure.

“It just didn’t occur to me that we should find some way to inform our citizens we were doing this,” Austin said. “Maybe it is best practice so people don’t feel blindsided.”

Rep. Will Greer (D-Bennington) also attended the conference in Israel and has traveled to Ireland; Washington, D.C.; and Boston for other conferences as a legislator. Greer paid his own way to Ireland but accepted funding from the nonpartisan Future Caucus and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators to travel domestically.

Greer said he has begun working on a bill that would require legislators to disclose any travel they undertake for the State of Vermont.

Earlier this year, legislators decided to eliminate the state ethics commission’s role in consulting on ethics complaints and delayed for two years empowering it to investigate issues such as alleged gift

Trips Without a Trace « P.14

Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky

violations. The commission would have been able to investigate complaints starting last month.

The legislature’s actions were a step backward for transparency and accountability, commission director Sivret said.

“This is just one example of where we’ve gone as far as creating the rules, but when it comes to disclosure and accountability, that is where Vermont is falling behind,” she said.

Gifts such as international airfare and hotel stays are considered potential avenues of influence in the same way as campaign donations and gifts from lobbyists, said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School and expert in government ethics policies.

“The major concern in all these things is that people give gifts — including meals, travel and entertainment — to public officials in order to influence their decisions,” Briffault said.

This was the third year Vermont legislators have attended the annual summit. Casey, who grew up in both Ireland and the U.S., estimated the total expenses of each trip exceeded $1,000 per person.

Casey said that although the trip can be cost-prohibitive, it provides an opportunity for legislators to learn from Ireland’s fraught political history.

“A lot of lessons can be learned as we’re looking at increasing polarization and heated rhetoric over here,” Casey said. “Like how do you work with someone you completely disagree with on a visceral level.”

This year, the legislature passed a bill to create the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission within the State Treasurer’s Office to advance bilateral trade and investment between the two nations. Casey, who introduced but failed to pass similar legislation last

WHEN IT COMES TO DISCLOSURE

CHRISTINA SIVRET

When registered lobbyists give something to state legislators, the lobbyist must disclose each gift to the Secretary of State’s Office. A gift is broadly defined by state statute to include political contributions, meals, sporting event tickets and speaking fees, though “reasonable travel expenses” are exempted. The gifts are available for the public to search online.

The highest-value gifts made to state legislators thus far this year were two sweatshirts, valued at $70 each, given by the Vermont State Colleges to Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central) and House Speaker Krowinski. The vast majority of the roughly 135 gifts filed so far this year were for legislative luncheons valued at $35 or less.

Briffault said paying out-of-pocket to travel for legislative conferences or speaking engagements has the lowest risk of a conflict of interest or ethics violation because no outside benefit is provided that could influence a lawmaker’s policy decisions.

This August, Rep. Conor Casey (D-Montpelier) was among five state representatives who paid their own way to a summit hosted by the American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Ireland. Casey said it’s an opportunity for legislators to strengthen diplomatic ties with Ireland and learn about innovations in its rural economy, among other topics.

year, said approximately 30 other states already have similar commissions in place.

Most legislators want to do the right thing, Briffault said. Legislators and the public can avoid mistrust and confusion around whether a trip was ethical if there is a clear, accessible policy in place.

At a minimum, a policy should enable the public to know who paid, the amount spent, and the stated subject and purpose behind the gift, he said. Ideally, this information would be made readily accessible online.

Rep. Chea Waters Evans (D-Charlotte) is a ranking member on the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee, which has purview over gift regulations for the chamber. She said she has not heard of any cases of a Vermont legislator being “nefarious or trying to be duplicitous” about their trips or ethics disclosures. But she noted that although the legislature had “chipped away” at its disclosure requirements in recent years, it’s always better to have fuller reporting.

“Transparency itself is a trust builder,” she said. ➆

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

Ask the Vet

With Dr. Bryan Harnett, Veterinary Internal Medicine

De Dr. H ne ,

My 6-year-old golden retriever, Bailey, was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The vet says this explains why she’s been gaining weight and losing hair. What does this diagnosis mean for her long-term health? — W d ing in W en

including the shuttered Nectar’s nightclub. “SALO,” the tag that defaced the Main Street mural, also appeared above a loading dock on South Winooski Avenue. Dumpsters and utility boxes seem to be favored spots for the ever-present “BUTT STUFF” tag.

Vacant buildings have been particular targets for defacement. And, like on Main Street, the vandals seem to have no qualms about tagging another person’s artwork, even though that’s typically a no-no in the street art community.

hide the graffiti. But that, too, was vandalized and ultimately removed.

Businesses on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace get city help with graffiti cleanup, a service that’s supported by the fees they pay. On nearby College Street, Jana Qualey’s business, Home & Garden Vermont, has been tagged several times. Qualey has to eat the expense herself since her landlord doesn’t chip in. She estimates she’s funneled $4,000 over the past five years into graffiti abatement, a large expense for a business that sells small gifts, she said.

Qualey, who moved to Burlington from South Carolina in 2018, said she’s frustrated the city doesn’t do more.

“I don’t feel that it is a priority. I really don’t,” she said. “I don’t think there’s pride right now in this city, in the way it looks.”

In 2020, Burlington police tallied 160 complaints about graffiti, but there are just 12 on record for this year — proof that the crime is “grossly underreported,” interim Police Chief Shawn Burke said. Police have not arrested anyone for graffiti this year, he said.

Dr. Bryan Harnett, DVM, DACVIM

HYPOTHYROIDISM is one of the most common hormonal disorders we see in dogs, and fortunately, it’s very manageable. It means Bailey’s thyroid gland isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone, which affects her metabolism throughout her body. This explains the weight gain and hair loss, and you may have noticed other signs too—lethargy, exercise intolerance, skin infections, or even behavioral changes.

THE BENEFITS: The good news is that treatment is straightforward: a daily thyroid supplement (levothyroxine) that replaces the missing hormone. Most dogs respond beautifully within a few weeks to months. You’ll likely notice her energy returning ﬁrst, followed by improvement in her coat quality and thickness. Weight loss typically becomes much easier once her metabolism normalizes, though you may still need to adjust her diet and exercise routine.

WHAT TO EXPECT:Your vet will recheck Bailey’s thyroid levels in about 4-6 weeks after starting medication to ensure the dose is correct. We’re looking for levels in the upper half of the normal range. After that, we typically monitor every 6-12 months, or if symptoms return. Some dogs need dose adjustments over time.

IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR DOG? This is a lifelong condition requiring daily medication, but with consistent treatment, Bailey should live a completely normal, healthy life. The prognosis is excellent. Just remember to give the pill at roughly the same time each day, and keep up with those monitoring appointments.

THE GOAL IS TO GET MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SOMETHING THAT’S PRODUCTIVE AND POSITIVE.

SAM DONNELLY

The city has undertaken various efforts over the years to tamp down the problem. More than a decade ago, the Burlington Community Justice Center operated a formal removal program in which offenders helped clean up graffiti. In 2021, the city dispatched a team of 10 cleaners to both public and private properties, but the coronavirus relief money that funded the program lapsed after two years. City councilors have spent discretionary funds, which are included in the city budget, on mural projects in the Old North End and downtown in recent months.

Burlington’s Department of Public Works estimates it has spent about $1,000 in staff time cleaning or replacing 90 street signs so far this year. The city’s Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department typically spends about $10,000 per year on graffiti removal products, plus another $5,000 on paint. Year to date, parks staff have logged more than 100 graffiti complaints, with public restrooms, Fletcher Free Library and city buildings the most common targets.

Perhaps the most-tagged downtown structure is the city’s own Memorial Auditorium, which is next door to the building with the colorful new mural. In July, artwork was erected along the fence that surrounds Memorial in an effort to

During her campaign for mayor, Mulvaney-Stanak ran with a pledge to create a “robust graffiti removal strategy.” Shortly after taking office, she told WCAX-TV that she hoped to deploy city staff to clean up graffiti “block by block” instead of in a piecemeal fashion. But there’s been no plan at all.

Mulvaney-Stanak blames her inaction on budget pressures. Two years in a row, the city has faced multimillion-dollar shortfalls, leading the mayor to lay off 18 city workers this spring. Creating a new graffiti cleanup team “would be quite the lift” and isn’t going to happen, the mayor said.

Enforcing the city’s graffiti laws is up to the police department, which once had a Street Crimes Unit that would investigate quality-of-life crimes. But that team was eliminated after the city council voted in 2020 to reduce the size of the police force through attrition. With a roster of just 61 officers, cops only respond to the most pressing calls. Residents are asked to report vandalism using an online form.

Businesses that have been defaced will often submit surveillance images of vandals, but many wear masks or puffy clothing as disguises, Burke said. Even if cops can catch a tagger, it can be difficult to build a criminal case, he said. The charge would be under Vermont’s “unlawful mischief” law, which requires evidence that the graffiti damaged the surface on which it was painted.

That burden of proof is tricky, Burke said, “especially if it can just be taken away with a pressure washer.”

Other cities have adopted various laws and programs to combat tagging. In Anaheim, Calif., stores that sell aerosol paint must keep it behind the counter. The city will remove graffiti from private property but can charge offenders for the cost of cleanup. Phoenix has a similar law

and also provides free paint to community groups willing to cover up tags. In Portland, Ore., city officials can place liens on properties whose owners fail to clean up graffiti within 10 days.

Burlington’s graffiti ordinance contains few of those provisions. Councilors recently debated the code but focused on a proposal that would have allowed people to sue one another for defacing public property with hateful messages. That idea was dropped, and there’s been no further discussion of increasing penalties for graffiti vandalism.

Mulvaney-Stanak is interested in rules similar to Portland’s, saying property owners should be held accountable for failing to maintain their buildings. She said such rules would pair well with the city’s newly bolstered vacant building ordinance, which can fine absentee landlords up to $6,000 per year.

In an interview with Seven Days, City Councilor Evan Litwin (D-Ward 7), who chairs a council committee focused on quality-of-life issues, floated a program that would allow offenders who commit any nonviolent crime to join a cleanup crew as a means of restorative justice. He hasn’t yet discussed the idea with his committee, saying other issues — including syringe litter — have taken precedence.

“You should repair the harm directly to the community that you harmed,” Litwin said. “If they can get out and clean graffiti and clean trash, that saves the city money.”

Grassroots groups are already banding together to beautify the city. The Peace & Justice Center has started the BTV Clean Up Crew, a weekly gathering of people who pick up trash and needles around town. Later this month, a group of University of Vermont students will tackle graffiti downtown as part of a community service project. Building Burlington’s Future, which advocates for public safety reforms, is organizing a new graffiti removal program that will

launch in the coming weeks. The group will provide funding and supplies and use social media to promote the cleanups, which Donnelly hopes will happen at least twice a month.

“The goal is to get more people engaged in something that’s productive and positive,” he said. “What we hear from people who are part of those kinds of things is that they feel a little bit more hopeful about the direction of the city.”

But he also thinks the city itself should chip in, such as by organizing the events or directing the volunteers who show up.

Mulvaney-Stanak, some of her staff and city councilors were part of the crew that helped at the new Main Street mural. But the mayor isn’t convinced that the city should lead the efforts, particularly when a lot of the graffiti is on private property. Having volunteers work on public property introduces liability concerns, the mayor said, noting that the city has had to refuse community members’ help to spruce up Memorial Auditorium in the past. Still, Mulvaney-Stanak isn’t ruling out some sort of collaboration.

“There’s multiple ways people can also be part of the solutions here and not just expect the mayor and the city council to be the ones to come up with everything,” she said.

McVey, the dad who helped paint the mural on Main Street, thinks a more organized effort could make a difference. Driving home after working on that project, he took note of other graffiti downtown, including at Mr. Mikes Pizza, where someone spray-painted a bright red face on the building’s exterior. Compared to the Main Street building, covering tags that size would be easy, he said.

“Maybe what we’ll see is more small actions to go and clean this stuff up,” McVey said. “We’re too used to it. As people clean it up, we’ll get used to that, too, and we can make that our new normal.” ➆

The former Manhattan Pizza & Pub

FEEDback

profiting from the killing of Palestinian civilians was not a local issue.

So by what rationale did Birong plant a Vermont state flag on occupied Palestinian land in mid-September?

Birong is free to have his own opinion about the murder, maiming and starvation of innocent civilians in Gaza. But as a legislative representative, he should not be using his position to stifle discussion at town meeting or projecting Vermont’s endorsement of genocide abroad.

I certainly will not vote for him again.

Laura Fair FERRISBURGH

‘I WAS SICKENED’

I wonder how Vermont legislators expected to further “hopes for achieving peace in Gaza and the West Bank” by taking a government-sponsored junket to Israel [“Five Vermont Lawmakers Join Israel-Funded Trip,” September 22, online]. Did the lawmakers find a suggestion box outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office where they could submit a comment to “stop the genocide”? Did they challenge the Israeli propaganda

that permeated the whole venture and that continues to provide cover for the slaughter of civilians in Gaza? Will they follow up with a Russian-sponsored trip to the war zone in Ukraine so they can register their concerns about those atrocities?

Honestly, I was sickened, in the current gruesome context, to see the smiling legislators planting a tree in Israel. My only real question to the five junketeers would be, following Joseph Welch: “Have you no sense of decency?”

Andrew Simon BURLINGTON

REP. GREER SHOULD RESIGN

In [“Five Vermont Lawmakers Join IsraelFunded Trip,” September 22, online], Rep.

Will Greer (D-Bennington) is quoted as saying his junket to the apartheid state was accomplished without using taxpayer dollars. This is only true if we ignore the fact that Israel has been the No. 1 recipient of U.S. foreign aid for many years. We don’t want a foreign government influencing our state government, even if it is picking up the tab.

Will Greer, resign from office.

Gregory Kruszewski SOUTH BURLINGTON

MISGUIDED JUNKET

I am so disgusted to find out that Vermont reps went on an all-expenses-paid propaganda trip to Israel [“Five Vermont Lawmakers Join Israel-Funded Trip,” September 22, online]. The comment by Rep. James Gregoire (R-Fairfield) — “We wouldn’t have had those opportunities, any of us, to ask those questions if we stayed at our houses” — struck me in particular. Really? Are you not able to read news? Are you unable to tune in to broadcasts? Do you not have the skills to contact people around the world to pose your questions? Have you no time to peruse the

testimonies coming out of Gaza, the West Bank and, yes, Israel itself, whose own B’Tselem and Holocaust scholars called it genocide long before our state reps and the United Nations finally shuffled up to the podium?

The tree planting, the listening sessions, the curated tours complete with the requisite fawning over the Wailing Wall: When will U.S. politicians get past this grotesque hero worship of an apartheid, genocidal state? How many more screaming, bleeding, shattered, dead families will it take for these five pitifully uninformed lawmakers to finally understand they are being hoodwinked by “hasbara”?

People need to understand that the horrific 60,000-plus number of dead now floating around is a vast undercount. The reality is that Palestinians are being exterminated, deliberately and methodically; at last analysis, the number is more like 860,000 and counting.

U.S. politicians need to be doing everything in their power to stop the slaughter, not going on starry-eyed tours and planting trees and flags in pathetic settler cosplay.

Patricia Ward EAST BURKE

ENVIRONMENT

Gauging the Drought’s Ongoing Impact on Humans and Wildlife

STORY & PHOTO BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

“Did Moses really part the Red Sea — or was it just a drought?”

That was the question posed in a September 26 Instagram reel by Vermont for Real, which shows a woman walking across a rocky land bridge to Lake Champlain’s Mosquito Island. This isn’t the first time that Mosquito Island, aka Fordham Island, off Kill Kare State Park in St. Albans, has been accessible on foot. Still, the video highlights the severity of this year’s historic low lake levels.

Nearly all of the state is in severe-toextreme drought. August was the driest month on record since 1895, with rainfall levels 2.6 inches below normal, according to the National Weather Service. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has received reports of more than 400 wells running dry since August, far exceeding the total number of dry wells reported over the entire previous decade.

“We have a big backlog of wells to drill, and we’re trying to keep up with all the out-of-water calls that keep coming in,” said David Chevalier, owner of Chevalier Drilling in Swanton. The 67-year-old, who’s been drilling wells in Vermont for nearly half a century, said this is among the worst years he’s seen. His crew of 17 is now triaging calls, giving highest priority to farms whose animals and livelihoods are directly at risk. People who have no other water source are also getting moved up the list.

As for the rest, “Some people just have to wait until the rigs can get there,” he said. In the meantime, he added, “They go see relatives.”

Thus far, most of the problem wells aren’t the deep-drilled variety but shallow wells dug by excavators and fed by surface water or springs rather than aquifers.

“But the longer the drought goes on, the deeper the effect occurs in the ground,” Chevalier added. In such dry conditions, both animals and humans use more water, further straining pump systems.

Last week, before the federal government shut down, Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts requested a federal disaster declaration for the entire state. The declaration would make financial assistance, including low-interest Farm Service Agency emergency loans, available to farmers.

“Farms are trucking water for livestock, vegetable and fruit crops are severely diminished, pasture is dry or dead, maple, fruit, and Christmas trees are stressed, corn and hay are stunted, depleted, or nonexistent, feed is reduced and in short supply, and bees are suffering from the lack of nectar and pollen,” Tebbetts wrote in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Tebbetts has yet to hear back — unsurprisingly, given the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The drought has also kept the U.S. Coast Guard busy marking previously uncharted hazards on Lake Champlain and relocating existing buoys and other navigational aids into deeper waters. The dwindling lake level has created “a handful” of new problem spots that didn’t exist before, said Chief David McDonald, who oversees the Aids to Navigation team at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Burlington. The station maintains 142 buoys on Lake Champlain between Rouses Point and Whitehall, N.Y., as well those on Lake Memphremagog.

Surprisingly, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has not seen a major impact thus far on the state’s aquatic creatures. Despite the fact that many headwater streams and rivers in the mountains are down to a trickle or dried up completely, cooler-than-average temperatures this summer helped mitigate the drought’s impact on cold-water fish species, including brook, brown and rainbow trout, according to Will Eldridge, an aquatic habitat biologist with Fish & Wildlife. Currently the state has no plans to place restrictions on fishing.

“Where there’s water, the population seems to be healthy,” Eldridge said. “We’re not seeing signs that the fish are stressed.” He added that brown and brook trout appear to be spawning normally despite low water flow, which normally bottoms out in September before rebounding in October. And because trees draw less water once they lose their leaves, that, too, will mitigate the impact on groundwater.

While Eldridge didn’t want to downplay the drought’s severity, “we expect the fish and wildlife to rebound from this,” he said, “because they’ve evolved with drought.” ➆

Shelburne Beach in September

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Allston Joseph Gilmond III

NOVEMBER 5, 1959SEPTEMBER 29, 2025

GEORGIA, VT.

Allston Joseph Gilmond III, 65, of Georgia, Vt., passed away on September 29, 2025. Born in Burlington, Vt., on November 5, 1959, Allston dedicated his life to service, family and community. A proud Navy veteran, he served for 20 years, including during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. His commitment to his fellow veterans continued long after his military career, through decades of leadership in numerous veterans’ organizations.

Philip Varricchione

FEBRUARY 25, 1938SEPTEMBER 23, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Philip Varricchione, 87, cherished brother, husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025. He was a devoted husband, soulmate and best friend

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Allston held several distinguished positions within the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), including VFW Post Junior Vice Commander (20032004), Post 6689; VFW Post Senior Vice Commander (2005-2006), Post 6689; VFW State Commander (20122013), Post 782; VFW State Chief of Staff (2017-2018), Post 782; VFW AllAmerican Team Post Commander (2017-2018), Post 782; and VFW National Council of Administration (2017-2021), Post 782. He also served as a service ofﬁcer for American Legion Post 91 and vice president of Warriors Soar, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans.

Allston was passionate about golf and used his love of the sport to give back, running a golf program designed for veterans and actively participating in the PGA HOPE Program. He was also an avid bowler and competed for many years in the ABC National Championships.

Allston was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend. He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Deborah Gilmond; and his children, Christopher Gilmond (with signiﬁcant other Starla Cusson), Jeremy Gilmond (with wife Kristen Gilmond) and Shana Chaplin. He was a proud grandfather to 15 grandsons and four granddaughters.

to the late Catharine (Kay) Dean Varricchione; a loving and supportive father to Marc Varricchione (Sharon) and Annie Garner (Doug); dearest Peppy and biggest fan of Abby and Lola Varricchione and Finn and Sully Garner; beloved son of the late Frank and Simone Poulin Varricchione; brother of the late Mary Louise Varricchione-Lyon and Lou Varricchione; and survived by siblings Pauline Van Sleet, Terry Benway, and Jim, John and om Varricchione.

Phil was born on February 25, 1938, and raised in Burlington, Vt. He was a graduate of Cathedral High School and Saint Michael’s College and served in the U.S. Navy. Early in his career, he was an English teacher and coach at Rice Memorial High School, worked for IBM in purchasing, and worked for Smith Bell & ompson in both the real estate and insurance divisions.

Phil never strayed far from the community he loved. He treasured his connection to Burlington and gave back to it as owner of Longe Brothers

He is also survived by his mother, June Studley (with husband Dick Studley); siblings, Daniel Gilmond (with wife Jane), Brenda Green (with husband Geoffrey), Jay Gilmond, Kari Trudo (with husband Bruce), Lisa Trombly (with husband Bruce) and Kelly Senesac (with husband Dale); and by cherished friends Barb Gilmond, Brian Decatur (with wife Penny) and Robert Colby (with wife Waneda), along with many more dear friends and extended family members whose lives he deeply touched. He was predeceased by his father, Allston Gilmond Jr.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Ready Funeral Home Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Dr., Essex Junction, VT.

A funeral mass will be held on ursday, October 9, 2025, 10 a.m., at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 29 Allen St., Burlington, VT, followed by a celebration of life from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post, 8 South St., Colchester, VT.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations may be made in Allston’s memory to Warriors Soar, the Wounded Warrior Project or Josh’s House.

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

Market for 18 years. He was a man of great presence and generosity, greeting everyone who came through the doors with respect and extending store credit to loyal customers.

Phil worked hard, loved deeply, joked loudly and never knew a stranger. Whether you met him once or saw him every day, he welcomed you warmly, and you felt forever connected. He’ll be remembered for sharing his knowledge, humor and charm at endless family gatherings, lunches with lifelong friends and coffee club meetings. His was a life well lived, and he’ll forever be in our hearts.

Per Phil’s request, there will be no services. Please consider donating in his memory to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446 or uvmhealth.org/give-back/ give-to-uvm-health.

Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit Phil’s Tribute Wall, 7dvt.pub/ pvarricchionewall.

Kay Ruth Tomczak

SEPTEMBER 11, 1937OCTOBER 2, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT.

Kay Ruth Tomczak, 88, passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House on October 2, 2025. She was a breast cancer warrior and stubbornly fought a long battle with metastatic breast cancer and lymphoma for 15 years. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Born in 1937, in Wyandotte, Mich., she was the third of six children born to Howard and Ethel McMillan. Kay graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School as a dental hygienist in 1957.

Kay married James Joseph Tomczak on August 2, 1958, in Lincoln Park, Mich. ey moved to Burlington, Vt., in 1965 where they raised their nine children. In their retirement years, they moved to Colchester, and later to the Residence at Shelburne Bay, where Kay reconnected with old friends and made many new ones.

Kay was a loving wife and mother. Her marriage of 66 years and her deep faith in a loving, forgiving God gave her strength and joy, which she shared with everyone she met. Kay’s participation in the Catholic Cursillo Movement strengthened her faith. In 1977 she helped form the Vermont chapter of Aglow International, a nondenominational Christian women’s group, and traveled around the U.S. as a board member for many years. She was active in both Catholic and

Christian prayer communities and bible studies.

Love, faith and family were the foundation and strength of Kay’s life, and she sought to help many individuals in need of comfort and shelter. Kay loved to create beauty and harmony — in relationships, in flowers and gardens, and by creating quilts for her ever-growing family. She was active in the Champlain Echoes Chorus and the local quilting community, and she enjoyed playing games with family and friends. She was a steadfast supporter of all her family members, attending sporting events and activities and delighting in celebrating birthdays. To spend time with Kay was to feel unconditionally loved and accepted. Kay was predeceased by her sisters, Jeanne Cox and Carroll Woyjcik; her husband, James; and two grandsons, James Currie and Roger Schafer III. Kay is survived by her brothers: Ken (Marnie), Jim (Marianne) and Terry (Sandy) McMillan; and her children: Elizabeth (Roger) Schafer, Mary Susan (John) Currie, David (Patty), Andrew, Jennifer (Scott DuBois), Christine (Stephen) Horton, Kathleen (A.D.) Kent, Stephen and Natalie (Joel) Bradford; 21 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. e family would like to extend our deepest gratitude for the care given to our mother in her final months: Dr. Anne Breña and staff members of the Residence at Shelburne Bay, Bayada Hospice and the McClure Miller Respite House. Visiting hours are on Sunday, October 12, 2025, 3 to 5 p.m., at LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025, 10 a.m., at Daybreak Community Church in Colchester, with a reception to follow. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Aspire Now (aspire-now.org) or Samaritan’s Purse (samaritanspurse.org).

Linda Adams

JUNE 28, 1950-SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

HINESBURG AND MONKTON, VT.

Linda Adams, 75, passed on September 16, 2025, leaving this world much the same way she lived in it — quietly determined and deeply loved.

Linda loved simple joys: the woods, the hum of a good country song, a Sunday afternoon NASCAR race and a freshly mowed lawn with her garden in bloom. She could take a worn-out bench and make it beautiful again, tile a kitchen like a pro, or build doll furniture sturdy enough to last generations — all gifts she shared with her grandchildren.

To describe Linda is to say she was classic, modest, stoic, frugal, warm and determined. She found meaning in hard work, joy in small pleasures and love in family. Those who knew her will carry her spirit forward — in every project finished with care, every garden tended and every moment of steadfast love shared.

Her story took an important turn when she went to work for IBM, where she met the love of her life, Howard Adams. Together they built nearly 50 years of marriage, raising two sons, Eric and Scott, and later doting on their grandchildren, Ryan and Natalie. Family was always at the center of her world.

The second half of Linda’s life was no less full. She worked at Greer’s Dry Cleaning as a presser and later at Revision Eyewear, where she took immense pride in ensuring the glasses she helped create would serve U.S. troops well. Whatever the task, she gave it her trademark mix of skill, pride and quiet dedication.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Carroll and Marjorie (Place) Clark; her beloved husband, Howard; her sisters Caroline Bell, Joyce Owens and Betty Rouse; and her brothers Kiland (Sonny), Wayne, Gary and Nelson Clark. She leaves behind her sister Judy Irish; her brother Al Clark; her sons; her daughters-in-law, Heather (Burritt) Adams and Amy Paquette; her treasured grandchildren; and more nieces and nephews than anyone could easily count.

A celebration of her life will be held on November 8, 2025, noon to 3 p.m., at Buck Ridge Barn in Hinesburg, after a private burial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider donating to Audubon Vermont.

Lillian Grenier Beaudoin

JULY 8, 1925-SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT.

Lillian Grenier Beaudoin, 100, passed away in the comfort of her home on September 24, 2025, following a brief illness. She was surrounded by love, just as she had been two months earlier during a joyful celebration of her centennial birthday with family and friends.

Lillian was born on July 8, 1925, in Thetford Mines, Québec, to René and Florentine Grenier. At only 10

Lisa Mary Kinney

DECEMBER 5, 1964OCTOBER 1, 2025 GRAND ISLE, VT.

Lisa Mary Kinney, at age 60, passed away on October 1, 2025, after an aggressive and painful battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed away at the Respite House in Colchester with her family by her side.

She was born in St. Albans, Vt., on December 5, 1964, and was raised in North Hero, Vt. She attended North Hero Elementary School and Colchester High School.

Lisa was known for her quick wit, humor and animated voices, making everyone laugh. Her passions were riding her bicycle, hiking, tennis, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and her two dogs, Tinker and Jazz. Lisa loved her music and playing cards with a

months old, she relocated with her family to Lowell, Mass. After World War II, she married her wartime pen pal, Wilfred “Willie” Beaudoin. Together they made their home in Burlington, Vt., where they raised four children and shared nearly 63 years of devoted marriage until his passing in 2009.

Lillian embodied unwavering faith, quiet strength and steadfast dedication to her family. In her forties, she earned both her driver’s and pilot’s licenses, the latter pursued to support her husband’s passion for aviation. She was employed for 25 years at Rice Memorial High School, a role that aligned with her children’s academic calendar and enabled her to remain actively engaged in their upbringing.

Lillian played piano and sang with La Famille Beaudoin, a family band dedicated to traditional French Canadian music. The group performed at folk festivals throughout the region and was featured in the Andy Williams Christmas special at Shelburne Museum.

Family gatherings were filled

group of friends and family and cared for them deeply, as they did for her. She was noted for “just doing my thing.”

She lived in Grand Isle for most of her adult life, serving three years as an EMT with Grand Isle Rescue, and worked for the Grand Isle Ferry for many years, eventually obtaining her captain’s license.

Lisa’s final job was at Gordini’s in Essex Junction, Vt. Special thanks to Sue and Jason for their kind support during her final days.

Lisa was predeceased by her parents, Paul and Helen Kinney, and her nephew, Nicholas Kinney, all of North Hero.

She leaves behind her brothers, Bill Kinney (Sandy), Jim Kinney (Debra) and Steve Kinney; sisters, Paula Ballentine (David) and Susan Bergeron (Peter); her Aunt Bev and Roddy Brown; and several nephews, nieces and cousins. We will all miss her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lisa’s honor to Grand Isle Rescue, PO Box 79, Grand Isle, VT 05458 or McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446.

A private service will be held at a later date for family and close friends.

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through gossfs.com.

with music, games and storytelling. Lillian had a keen intellect, subtle wit and quiet humor. A master of crossword puzzles and Scrabble for years, she remained a formidable force in online word challenges even as her eyesight declined, often besting her family. She delighted in sharing jokes, with her laughter frequently arriving before the punchline.

Lillian also expressed her love through craftsmanship. She created beautiful quilts, afghans and needlepoints with care. Her crocheted scrubbies and homemade fudge became cherished traditions at the annual Christmas Eve gathering in her home.

For 15 winters, Lillian and Willie spent time in Ruskin, Fla., enjoying fresh citrus, evening walks and the enduring friendships they cultivated. In Vermont, she remained deeply rooted in her faith as a devout member of Christ the King — St. Anthony Parish, where she maintained her spiritual connection from the time she moved to Burlington in 1946 until her passing.

Lillian is survived by her four

IN MEMORIAM

Lucille Sargent

AUGUST 10, 1941OCTOBER 10, 2022

children: Pauline Beaudoin (formerly Viens), Diane Nichols (David), Roger Beaudoin (Polly) and Nancy Sakamoto (Nate). She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, who affectionately know her as Mémère. She is also survived by her sister, Priscilla Grenier. She is predeceased by her husband, Wilfred Beaudoin; her parents; and her siblings Rita April, Marcel Grenier, Pauline Bevins and Doris Bechard.

There will be no visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on October 11, 2025, 11 a.m., at Christ the King Church, 136 Locust St., Burlington, followed by a reception. Interment will be on October 14, 2025, 11 a.m., at Resurrection Park Cemetery. The family respectfully requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Christ the King — St. Anthony Parish, 305 Flynn Ave., Burlington, VT 05401. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

We will always love and remember you, our beloved wife, mother and grandmother. We miss you every day. Love, Don, Sarah & Simone Alex, Malcolm, Brandon, Lauren, Olivia, Langston & Myles

IN MEMORIAM

Barbara Broughton

1939-2022

10/7/2022, the day you left us. You were a special lady: wife and mom and grand-mom, and you are loved and missed each and every day. Save us a place at your table.

Your loving family

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Barbara Anderson Leavens Joachim

JULY 26, 1933-OCTOBER 2, 2025 ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Barbara “Barb” Anderson Leavens Joachim, 92, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2025, at Elizabethtown Community Hospital in Elizabethtown, N.Y., following a brief illness.

Barbara was born on July 26, 1933, in Griffin, Québec, to James Anderson and Marjorie Bronson. She attended a convent school in Stanstead, Québec, where she became fluent in French, and graduated from Derby Academy in 1952. After graduation she worked as a clerk at Butterfield Ltd., where she met William Leavens. ey married in 1953 and raised four children: Gary, Jeffrey, Cindy and Jody. Together they purchased and remodeled a historic 1900s schoolhouse on Nelson Hill in Derby, Vt., where they made many family memories.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

involved with 4-H, helping organize projects such as car washes and exchange trips with 4-Hers in Indiana and Nova Scotia.

In 1977 she moved to Milton, Vt., and began a long career as a case manager with the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging (now Age Well) and the Milton Senior Center, where she served the community for over 30 years with dedication and compassion.

Barbara married David Joachim in 1984. Together they lived in Milton and Fairfax for many years before moving to Essex Junction. ey shared many joyful memories on cross-country road trips to visit family and friends.

where they served on the church’s hospitality team during Sunday coffee hours and attended Bible studies together.

After moving to Essex Junction, Barbara and David made many new friends in their apartment community. Weekly highlights included playing cards, offering neighbors rides and joining in on bingo games. She also loved reading and taking long drives through the countryside.

She is survived by her son Gary (Margaret) Leavens of Derby, Vt.; daughter Cindy (Michael) Dickerson of Milton, Vt.; daughter-in-law Kathy Leavens of Milroy, Ind.; and daughter-by-marriage, Debbie (Todd) Sheridan, of Colchester, Vt. She was predeceased by her husband, David; son Jeffrey Leavens of Milroy, Ind.; and daughter Jody Leavens of Plattsburgh, N.Y. Barbara is also survived by 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Sharon Green

OCTOBER 12, 1948SEPTEMBER 17, 2025, MORRISVILLE, VT.

Barbara began working for the University of Vermont Extension Service in Newport, Vt., where she was actively

Randy Allen Trayah

JULY 12, 1963-SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

WINOOSKI, VT.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Randy Allen Trayah, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Randy passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on September 30, 2025. Born on July 12, 1963, in Burlington, Vt., Randy was the son of Francis Trayah and June (Ring) Trayah. He was a beloved family member, father, brother, uncle, friend and husband. Randy touched the lives of many with his profound sense of humor, warmth, creativity and outgoing nature. Generous and kind, he had an uncanny ability to connect with justabout anyone.

As a devoted grandmother, Barbara took great pride in her grandchildren, attending musical performances, sports and activities and always eager to support their accomplishments. She enjoyed tending to her many ﬂower gardens, swimming in the summers, baking for local fundraisers and shopping for antique collectibles at area garage sales.

Barbara and David were actively involved in the United Church of Milton,

the love of his life, Candy (Bushway), and they married in September 1982. He was predeceased in death by his beloved wife, Candy, in April 2024. Together they shared over 43 years of marriage and raised two children, Bobbie and Shane.

Randy graduated from Burlington High School in 1981. Shortly after, he met

Randy’s work ethic was unmatched. He was loved and respected for his honesty, kindness and his genuine concern for others. He worked for many years for the Burlington School District, where he became a beloved bus driver. Randy also gave to his community as a volunteer ﬁreﬁghter for the City of Winooski. He was a favorite among the children he drove to school and the teachers he supported. Randy loved sports, cheering for the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys. He enjoyed watching baseball and football games with family and friends. He especially cherished outings with his children, including getting ice

Barbara was especially grateful for the compassionate in-home caregivers who helped her maintain her independence until summer 2025, when she transitioned to more intensive support.

A graveside burial service will be held at the Milton Village Cemetery (date to be determined), with Rev. Jeff Cornwell ofﬁciating.

Online condolences may be shared at minorfh.com.

cream, evenings at Lake Monsters games and joyrides around town.

Randy also had a deep love for music, and his favorite bands included Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Rush and Led Zeppelin. An animal lover, he and his family shared their home with many rescue cats over the years.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, October 12, 4 to 6 p.m., at Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 13, 10 a.m., at St. Joseph Church, 29 Allen St., Burlington. Interment will be immediately following at the family gravesite at Lakeview Cemetery, 455 North Ave., Burlington.

A celebration of life will follow at the VFW Post at 73 Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

In honor of Randy and in lieu of ﬂowers, donations can be made to the ﬁght against cancer, Humane Society of Chittenden County or the Autism Society of America.

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

Sharon Green, 76, of Morrisville, Vt., passed away peacefully at home on September 17, 2025, following a very difﬁcult battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born on October 12, 1948, in Auburn, Mass., to Herbert and Shirley (Warren) Anderson. She graduated from Classical High School in Worcester, Mass., attended the University of Massachusetts, moved with her ﬁrst husband, Michael Green, to Vermont and graduated from Johnson State College.

Sharon started working for the law ﬁrm of Wolchik and Williams and went on to become a law clerk, completing the clerkship and sitting for and passing the bar exam in 1979. She joined David Williams in the partnership of Willams and Green, practicing business, real estate and family law. Upon the selling of her practice of law, instead of total retirement, she became a senior paralegal for the ﬁrm of Stackpole and French, which she very much enjoyed.

She was truly committed to her community, serving on the boards of Copley Hospital, Lamoille County Mental Health, Lamoille Home Health & Hospice, and the Manor Nursing Home, and was one of the founders of the Clarina Howard Nichols Center, a shelter and program for battered women and their children. She was also a generous contributor of her beautiful plants to the Morrisville Centennial Library annual plant sale.

She married her beloved David Vinick in 1998 and added his restaurant/catering business to her repertoire of extensive activities. She loved to cook and bake and spent countless hours maintaining one of the most gorgeous perennial gardens in the county. Sharon had a lifelong spirit of adventure. With her

ﬁrst husband, she became a winning dogsled musher. Together with David she enjoyed snowshoeing, kayaking and camping with their family. ey traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada, including an epic road trip to Alaska. ey had great trips to Italy, Austria and Ireland. ey became certiﬁed sailors and sailed from the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, St. Vincent, Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea. Sharon was a wonderful and supportive friend to many and spoke well of everyone. Most important to her were David, with his daughters and their grandchildren, to whom she was completely devoted; her siblings and their families; and David’s family. Many people considered themselves lucky to have her as a friend. All who have had the good fortune to have Sharon in their lives know that there are no words to convey this loss. Sharon will be greatly missed by her extended family, who travel every November to Morrisville for a wonderful anksgiving dinner served at Sharon and David’s home. Sharon is survived by her husband, David Vinick; daughters, Hilary PayneVinick and Sarah Payne-Vinick and her partner, Alex Walker; grandchildren, Gabriel, Ella, Aiden and Anastasia; sister, Lynn Bonnivier; brother John Anderson and his wife, Maureen; sister-in-law Lisa Vinick; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Shirley; stepdad, Roy Harrison; and brother Stephen Anderson. We would like to thank the doctors and staff at the University of Vermont Cancer Center; the Copley Hospital staff; Dr. Peters; Laura Drennen, NP; and the RNs and LNAs who cared for Sharon throughout her treatments and hospital stay.

Special thanks to the staff of Lamoille Home Health & Hospice, Stephenie, Danny, and all the other RNs and LNAs who went above and beyond caring for Sharon in her ﬁnal days. ey made a tremendous difference.

A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, 11 a.m., at the Lamoille Funeral Home on Brooklyn Street in Morrisville. Reception to follow at the Green Mountain Inn at 1 p.m. In lieu of ﬂowers, please make a donation to Lamoille Home Health & Hospice in Sharon’s name.

Jonathan Fox

MAY 27, 1949SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 WATERVILLE, VT.

Jon Fox died at home in Waterville, Vt., on September 23, 2025. His final days were sweet and full of laughter. Friends and family traveled to see him from near and far, as if beckoned by his call.

Jonathan Dean Fox was born in New York City on May 27, 1949, the second child of Sherwood Dean Fox and Marcia Seidenbond Fox. Throughout his life, he continued to share a close bond with his two sisters, Janaki Costello and Deborah Fox, who both traveled to Vermont to be by his side when he passed. An independent thinker and a willful spirit, Jon traveled to California after high school to attend San Francisco State University. It was there that he met his match in Adrianna, who was his equal in passion and vision. Eager to make a better world, they migrated to Vermont in the early ’70s and settled in Waterville. The home they built at the top of the steep hill became a true haven for family, friends and many German shepherds. Jon and Adrianna raised

Anne Marie Crawford

NOVEMBER 4, 1950-OCTOBER 4, 2025 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Anne Marie Crawford, 74, of South Burlington, Vt., passed away on October 4, 2025.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel in Burlington. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m. Her burial will take place on October 18, 2025, 11 a.m., in the Assumption/ Wallace Pond Cemetery, 180 Jackson Lodge Rd., Canaan, VT, with a reception to follow at Jackson’s Lodge. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Vermont Foodbank, 33 Parker Rd., Barre, VT 05641, or online at vtfoodbank.org.

three daughters on the hill. Jon taught Lissa, Molly and Jill to be fierce and strong and caring. He taught them how to properly stack wood, do the New York Times crossword puzzle in pen, and throw a softball. As kids, they jokingly referred to him as the Almighty Patriarch, but he truly was. He could be gruff and ornery, but underneath that imposing exterior was a deep gentleness. Jon’s natural generosity extended to the girls he coached in softball over two generations, many of whom he stayed in touch with years after he stopped coaching. As a craftsman and builder, he gathered around him a vast community of tradespeople, and helped mentor a new generation of builders. He was a source of comfort to anyone who needed a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on.

A lifelong baseball fanatic,

Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To view a complete obituary or share online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Mia Abbott

SEPTEMBER 1952SEPTEMBER 2025

ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Mia I. Abbott, beloved daughter, niece, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, passed away in her residence in Essex Junction in September 2025, at the age of 73. She was born in Barre in 1952 and raised in South Burlington. Mia attended South Burlington High School and studied psychology and logic at the University of Vermont. She was a longtime employee of telecommunications companies, including New England Telephone, Bell Atlantic/Verizon, and Choice Communications, until her retirement.

Mia was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Irene Abbott. She is survived by her siblings, Diane Kaiser of Hinesburg, Vt.; Susan Abbott and husband Steve Falivene of Topsfield, Mass.; Richy Abbott and wife Laura of South Burlington, Vt.; and Christopher Abbott and wife Bobbi of Mooers, N.Y.; and her seven nieces and nephews: Jessica Kaiser, Kristin Kaiser, Chloe Falkinson, Gemma Falivene, Tucker Abbott, Justin Abbott and Kyle Abbott. She will be remembered for her generosity, outgoing spirit and love for animals. The family will honor Mia’s life privately, and encourages you to share memories online at awrfh.com.

Jon loved the Boston Red Sox, which really means he hated the Yankees. His love for the game manifested itself most strongly in his grandsons, Jasper and Rowan. Jon’s happy place was on his front porch in the sunshine, holding Adrianna’s hand, watching their grandsons toss a baseball on the front lawn.

Jon held his memories close throughout his 76 years, even when dementia made it harder for him to find words or names. Late in his life, he would sit in his shop, surrounded by tools he could no longer use, everything organized and smelling of oil, of summer days spent at the job site, of leather toolbelts and iron nails. He never forgot that he made things with love and care, things that were meant to shelter and nurture, and he knew that he had built much more than houses.

Jon kept his loved ones safe in the world. He was a provider and a protector, and the home and community he built with Adrianna was a refuge for those who knew and loved them.

Jon is celebrated by his wife and partner of 55 years, Adrianna Wood Fox. His spirit lives on in his daughter Lissa Fox and her partner, James Nagle (Montpelier, Vt.), and James’ daughter, Juna Nagle (Washington, D.C.); daughter Molly Fox Zhu, her husband, Kit Zhu, and their sons, Jasper Fox Zhu and Rowan Fox Zhu (Portland, Ore.); and daughter Jill Fox (Montpelier, Vt.) Jon is loved by his sister Janaki Costello, her husband, Heine Costello (El Cerrito, Calif.), and their sons, Josh Costello (Berkeley, Calif.), Adam Costello, (New York City) and Jamie Costello (El Cerrito, Calif.), along with their families; sister

Deb Fox and her husband, Ron Epstein (Rochester, N.Y.), their children, Eli Fox-Epstein (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Malka Fox-Epstein (Rochester, N.Y.), and their families; dear cousin Karen Mullarkey (New York City); and his best friend Kent’s daughters, Maia Corduan and her husband, Jess Canty (Hardwick, Vt.), and Hiata Corduan (Rockland, Maine), who held a special place in Jon’s heart.

We would like to thank Lamoille Home Health & Hospice for their exceptional care. Every aspect of it, from intake to nursing to personal care, was skilled, sensitive and sincerely concerned about Jon and our family. We especially thank our nurse, Chantal, who is an angel. Please consider making a donation at lhha.org/donate. A celebration of Jon’s life will be held next summer.

GREAT AND SMALL

Argentine cartoonist and Upper Valley resident Liniers turns ordinary life into extraordinary comics

BY CHELSEA EDGAR • chelsea@sevendaysvt.com

Remarkably little seems to happen in “Macanudo,” the daily comic strip created by Ricardo Liniers Siri, the Argentine cartoonist known professionally as Liniers. If you were forced to describe any given Liniers strip purely in terms of plot, you would end up saying things like: A ladybug lands. A man runs across a ﬁeld with great purpose, then forgets what he wanted to say. An elf sings Van Morrison. Sometimes, it rains.

Liniers’ comics appear in newspapers in eight countries, including Brazil, Canada, India and Finland, and circulate in some 120 publications across the U.S.; he has also drawn covers for the New Yorker and written and illustrated nine books for children. Since 2016, he has produced his body of work from his home in the woods of Norwich, where he lives with his wife, Angelica del Campo, and their three daughters.

Liniers may live in the Upper Valley, but “Macanudo” is about life anywhere, because he doesn’t make the strip for people in Argentina or Vermont, or in any particular place. His work is an invitation to reﬂect upon the beauty and banality and weirdness of everyday existence.

“Macanudo” — Argentine slang for “great,” as in “It’s all macanudo” — reﬂects Liniers’ insistently optimistic worldview in the face of unavoidable su ering and his gift for ﬁnding deeper truths in the most ordinary moments.

“He’s like some kind of holy fool,” James Sturm, director of the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, told me. “He’s sweet and playful, and yet he speaks fundamental truths.”

Readers in the U.S. can most easily read “Macanudo” on the website Comics Kingdom, which publishes the strip daily,

THAT’S WHY I GO TO ART: TO LIVE MORE LIVES THAN THE ONE I’VE BEEN GIVEN. LINIERS

as well as in more than a dozen collected volumes. What deﬁnes a Liniers cartoon is its playful exploration of the subtlest gradients of feeling, the darkness and light in the human condition.

While other widely syndicated cartoons take place in narrowly constructed worlds populated by a few major characters — say, “Cathy,” which is about the crises of a middle-aged woman, or “Garﬁeld,” about an abusive, gluttonous cat — “Macanudo” is a universe of strange multitudes. It’s populated by lesbian witches, gay elves and existential penguins; a precocious little girl named Henrietta ponders the

meaning of life with her cat, Fellini; there’s a blue monster named Olga, who can only say her own name.

The humor of “Macanudo” ranges from the philosophical (Henrietta strolls through the woods with Fellini and muses: “I don’t understand why I’m feeling nostalgic. I’m still kinda new.”) to the meta (A penguin announces to several other penguins: “We are just a collection of scribbles!”) to the surreal (elves in extremely tall hats, doing anything). In one strip, a little girl, tucked into bed, complains that she’s slightly cold. Her cat jumps on top of her, and then she’s cozy. That’s the punchline: She’s cozy.

“I don’t know what people expect from a daily strip. I don’t know how other people think. I don’t know what they think is funny or not funny,” Liniers told me on a visit to his house last month. “I just do this for myself.”

THE PENGUIN GUY

Liniers came to Vermont more or less on a whim. Before he and del Campo had kids, they’d spent a year in Montréal on an artist exchange, and they thought it would be fun for their daughters to live in a place where it snowed. So Liniers applied for a fellowship at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, in spite of the fact, as he put it, that he “didn’t know what a ‘Vermont’ was.”

Likewise, Sturm had never heard of the Argentine cartoonist, whose work wasn’t yet syndicated in the U.S. But he quickly developed a deep admiration for Liniers, both as an artist and a person.

“He’s charismatic and fun and an utter delight to be around, and that alone is rare,” Sturm said. “And his facility for drawing is exceptional. Each panel has a freshness to it, and every line feels like it’s carbonated and alive.”

When Liniers and his family arrived in Norwich, they ﬁgured they would stay for a couple years, then move back to Buenos Aires, where Liniers had spent his whole life. They were wrong. “It was way too pretty,” Liniers said. His daughters, ages 11, 15 and 17, have now spent most of their lives here.

Liniers may still be lesser known in the U.S. than in Latin America, but his work is highly respected by fellow cartoonists. “I don’t know what his drug intake is, but there’s a psychedelic quality to his work that I absolutely love,” said New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, who lives in Burlington and Cornish, N.H.

In addition to producing “Macanudo,” Liniers has drawn half a dozen covers for the New Yorker. His books for young readers include Good Night, Planet, which won an Eisner Award, cartooning’s most prestigious honor, in 2018. His most recent children’s book, The Ghost of Wreckers Cove, coauthored with del Campo, came out in September; together, the couple also run

an imprint called Editorial Común, which publishes graphic novels in Argentina.

But the daily strip is still Liniers’ main creative project, often superseding other worldly concerns. When I met him recently at his Norwich home in the middle of the day, I found him at his desk, still wearing a mismatched set of plaid flannel pajamas. He greeted me with unselfconscious warmth, then excused himself to change.

Liniers, 51, has thick, square-rimmed glasses and scru y salt-and-pepper hair that appears to enjoy considerable free will. In conversation, he’s prone to invoking highbrow and lowbrow cultural references in the span of a single thought — James Joyce to R2D2 and back again — with a sort of unpretentious a ection, as though they’d all just been hanging out on a stoop. As a kid, Liniers was painfully shy, and making comics helped him channel that awkwardness into a vulnerability that resonates with others. “When I started publishing the strip, it was like sending soldiers ahead of me, an advance guard that lets people know who I am,” he said. “I am the penguin guy.”

When I arrived, he’d been working feverishly to complete a stockpile of strips before leaving for a three-and-a-half-week tour across Europe with his friend Kevin Johansen, an Argentine American musician with whom Liniers occasionally performs. Johansen plays guitar and sings, and Liniers sits at a desk onstage and draws while a projector displays his work on a giant screen. Sometimes, the two men switch roles — Johansen draws, and Liniers plays guitar — the e ect of which Liniers likens to putting a normal guy in an Olympic track meet. “You have no idea how good those people are until you see an average person try to do what they’re doing,” he said.

Producing a daily strip requires both discipline and equanimity. “Daily cartoonists can draw their asses o , because they have to,” said Bliss, who’s drawn his own daily comic, “Bliss,” for two decades. “It’s not this thing where you submit once a week to the New Yorker, and they buy one or they don’t,” he said. “You’re doing it every single moment, every day. It trains your brain in a very speciﬁc way, and you just get better.” For Liniers, being afraid of ﬁlling a blank page would be like being afraid of brushing his teeth.

Nor does Liniers worry about running out of ideas, because no idea is too big or too small for his strip. The only bad cartoon, in his estimation, is one in which he fails to delight or surprise himself. “When I started the strip, I ﬁgured nobody was reading it anyway,” Liniers said. “So I made it into something where everything I can think of, I can do.”

Ricardo Liniers Siri

A VIBRANT MESS

When graphic novelist Emma Hunsinger was a student at the Center for Cartoon Studies, from 2018 to 2020, she would babysit Liniers’ and del Campo’s daughters. After she had put the girls to bed, she would sometimes peek into Liniers’ home o ce — at the time, a room hardly bigger than a closet.

“It was absolutely trashed,” said Hunsinger, who lives down the road from Liniers in Norwich with her wife, Vermont cartoonist laureate Tillie Walden. “It was hilarious. There was shit everywhere, but mostly, it was drawings — like, ﬁnished strips that were in newspapers, circulating all around the world, just piled up all over the place. It was such a mess, but these vibrant, beautiful cartoons were the mess.”

This mess helped Hunsinger understand something fundamental about Liniers: His need to create is so inborn, and so overwhelming, that he will ﬁnd a way to do it under any circumstances.

“Some cartoonists are so precious about their work and their materials,” Hunsinger continued. “They’re like, ‘I need this special nib that was carved out of a reindeer’s antler,’ or whatever. Ricardo makes his comics with a uniball roller pen that you can buy at Staples for, like, $20 a pack.”

Liniers has since moved his desk into a small room o the kitchen. The wild profusion of sketches and ﬁnished drawings, which seem to grow upon his desktop the way mushrooms grow on a log, has moved along with it.

Printed matter, in general, occupies a considerable proportion of the surface area inside the house. An entire wall in the foyer, at least eight feet high and twice as long, has been consecrated to ﬂoor-toceiling bookshelves. To get to the part of the house where Liniers works, you have to pass through a door disguised as part of the bookshelf wall.

Growing up, Liniers read omnivorously — Star Wars comics, classics of Western literature and, at perhaps the too-tender age of 11, Stephen King’s Pet Semetary “I’m all for tiny trauma,” he said. “That’s why I go to art: to live more lives than the one I’ve been given.”

When Liniers was 12, his cousin loaned him a collected volume of the Argentine cartoonist Héctor Germán Oesterheld’s “The Eternaut,” a serialized strip about an everyman turned resistance hero who battles alien invaders. “It was the coolest thing I’d ever read,” he said. (This year, “The Eternaut” was adapted into a Netﬂix series.)

Liniers was born in Buenos Aires in 1973, the beginning of the darkest 10-year period in Argentina’s history.

A military junta, aided by the U.S. government, oversaw the kidnapping and execution of an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people — students, writers, artists and political dissidents, most of whom vanished without a trace. Among those was Oesterheld, along with three of his daughters.

By the time Liniers read “The Eternaut,” Argentina’s defeat in the Falklands War and economic turmoil had led to the collapse of the junta, and a democratic government had been elected. No one in Liniers’ family was targeted during the military’s campaign of domestic terror-

FEEDING CREATIVITY

Liniers’ path to cartooning included several false starts. He tried studying law, like his father, which he quickly abandoned due to boredom. Then he considered working in advertising, but that didn’t take, either. In his early twenties, he realized that he already knew what he loved to do, and he would lose his mind if he didn’t do it.

“That was my RoboCop moment, when the thing turns red and starts beeping like crazy,” Liniers said. “I told my parents that they were going to have to feed me for 20 more years.”

THERE’S A PSYCHEDELIC QUALITY TO HIS WORK THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

HARRY BLISS

ism, but when he learned about the fate of “The Eternaut” creator, the brutalities of the dictatorship became personal for him. “Suddenly, the dictatorship took the form of someone I felt I knew,” he said.

In spite of this dark backdrop, Liniers speaks fondly of his childhood, a paradox that is also the essence of “Macanudo”: Everything can be bad and great at the same time. His parents took him to Disneyland and the movies, and they encouraged his love of art and books. Liniers said Johansen, his musician friend, sometimes jokes that he can tell Liniers has had a good life, because he can listen to two Radiohead albums in a row and not fall to pieces.

Liniers has been drawing for as long as he can remember, but he never had any kind of formal art training. One day, he saw a ﬂyer for a cartooning workshop and called the number in a panic, convinced he’d never get a spot. As it turned out, he was the only person who signed up for the class. Liniers is now the godfather of the instructor’s children.

For a few years, Liniers drew a weekly strip called “Bonjour!,” which he describes, pejoratively, as “weird.” It was dark and occasionally overwrought — “It was me pretending to be punk,” he explained — though certain motifs (existentialism, penguins) would persist in “Macanudo.”

Then, in 2002, he got a lucky break. A fellow cartoonist told him that La Nacion, one of Argentina’s biggest daily newspapers, was dropping “Zits,” because the humor (snow, basketball) was too culturally speciﬁc to the U.S. She put in a word for Liniers, and he got the slot, at the modest rate of $200 a week. When he received complaints that there weren’t enough punchlines in the strip, he drew strips that mocked the very idea of a punchline.

After Liniers published a graphic novel for young readers with Toon Books, a children’s book imprint founded by Françoise Mouly, art editor for the New Yorker, Mouly asked him to draw covers for the magazine. Since 2014, Liniers has illustrated half a dozen. Compared to the more simpliﬁed visual language of his cartoons, Liniers covers’ for the New Yorker are richly detailed, showcasing his playfully serious lines. Instead of crosshatching, a technique of layering lines in opposite directions to create contours and shading, Liniers tends to shade with lines that all go in the same direction, lending a scratchy, lo-ﬁ quality to even his most elaborate scenes.

“Hipster Stole,” from 2015, depicts a couple out for a stroll around the neighborhood, dressed as though they’ve just raided the closet of a 19th-century lighthouse keeper. The man’s beard, the eponymous stole, wraps around them both in a sort of Duchampian scarf, its hairy density suggested by a thatch of pen strokes.

Liniers told me it never occurred to him that he might draw covers for the New

Yorker. Like the rest of his career, he said, it happened improbably. “My fantasy was to make it to Uruguay,” Liniers said, “so I could say the strip was international.”

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

Since moving to Norwich, Liniers has largely managed to avoid traditional employment. He taught a class on Latin American comics at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., for a couple semesters — “I’m sure the parents of my students were super happy about that,” he said sarcastically — and he gives occasional lectures at the Center for Cartoon Studies. But mostly he’s at home, happily scribbling.

Liniers typically draws his strip in the morning, “when you’re still confused from that David Lynch movie in your head from the night before,” as he put it. He does one drawing for both English- and Spanishlanguage publication; if the humor doesn’t translate from one language to the other, he comes up with a version of the script that works with the same drawing. Recently, he drew a character called “Peter Pun,” a spoof on Peter Pan, but there is no Spanish equivalent to “pun” that rhymes with “Pan.” So he wrote an English strip about Peter Pun, a naïf who loves wordplay, and a Spanish strip about Peter Flan, a naïf who loves dessert.

Over more than two decades of drawing “Macanudo,” Liniers has learned that not everything can be a masterpiece, nor should creating masterpieces be the point. “Some days, you’re smart, and some days

you draw a whale, and you look at the whale, and the whale looks back, and it’s just despair,” Liniers said. “I feel like Ahab. But you still have to publish, because the days keep on coming.”

Sometimes, he tries to keep his cartoons simple so he can attend to other things, like preparing to leave the country for almost a month. Other times, he can’t help himself.

Liniers showed me two strips he’d been working on in his sketchbook — one depicting two penguins in the tundra, the desolation of which he had evoked with nothing more than an unbroken horizon line, a few squiggles and white space; the other, an exquisitely detailed forest scene featuring a girl and a cat on a footbridge over a roaring brook.

What makes Liniers’ work singular, said Sturm, director of CCS, is its combination of spontaneity and precision. “He allows his line to wander and play, but he’s also in total control of it,” Sturm said. Even his simplest cartoons have an emotional landscape.

This quality is a function not only of his ability to manipulate scale and perspective but also of how he uses silence. In one four-panel illustration, Henrietta, the little girl, is reading in bed with Fellini the cat and Mandelbaum, a teddy bear. The ﬁrst panel shows her cozily ensconced with her book and her furry friends, with no dialogue. In the second panel, she looks up from her book and says to the cat, who is now looking at her, “I don’t know about my life being an open book.” In the next panel, still addressing the cat, she says,

Given the current political climate in the U.S. — in particular, the threats to foreign citizens by the Trump administration — and the fact that he’s here on a green card, Liniers has been more careful about what he says in his strip and on the record, a caution he deplores. “Self-censorship is the ﬁrst sign of absolutism, and it’s scary,” he said.

But “Macanudo” is rarely overtly political, and Liniers isn’t interested in making topical art about the machinations of power. He’s more concerned with how life goes on amid the upheavals. “The big thing is horrifying, but my life is not there. My life is the small life,” he said. “I can have a glass of beer with my friends. My parents are really nice. I can smell the pencil shavings. It’s bananas how much we’re all living the same life, the way we fall in love and the way we screw up and the way we triumph.”

This might seem like a shockingly optimistic outlook for someone whose life began under a military dictatorship. But in another sense, it’s deeply real.

“But I intend to make opening books my life.” The fourth panel shows her quietly reading again.

Other cartoonists might have left out the ﬁrst and last panels, which don’t seem to advance the plot. But as New Yorker cartoonist Bliss explained, those silent bookends are doing the heavy lifting. “They’re creating resonance,” Bliss said. “The little girl has had a eureka moment, and those two textless panels allow the reader to digest it. It’s kind of sublime, actually.”

To the extent that “Macanudo” has a summarizable unifying premise, it’s these kinds of small epiphanies. “I’m the journalist of the tiny thing,” Liniers said. “The smell of a freshly sharpened pencil — that’s my news.” The saddest strip he ever made, he said, was about a father picking up his kid who has fallen asleep in front of the television. As the father carries his son to bed, he strains his back. The text reads: “The last day your father picked you up.”

Liniers chronicles the little joys, too: The first panel of a strip featuring La Guadalupe, a Day of the Dead-esque character who wears a black cape and a pointy hat adorned with ﬂowers, shows her ogling much bigger flowers. She touches the small flowers on her hat, looking forlorn; in the next panel, she’s walking away jauntily, sporting a crown of huge blooms. With no text and the tiniest of pen strokes, Liniers captures this subtle emotional trajectory — from shy covetousness to vague disappointment to private satisfaction — on La Guadalupe’s skeleton face.

After President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Sturm said, a bunch of people from the cartoon school, including Liniers, got together to process their feelings. Some hadn’t slept in days, but Sturm was struck by how sanguine Liniers seemed.

“I remember thinking, He’s been there and done that. He’s lived through authoritarianism and rightward turns ,” Sturm said. “And there he was, smiling. His creative life force warmed that room.”

Hunsinger told me that she was walking in downtown Hanover recently and noticed a suspiciously beautiful flyer. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a Liniers original — an advertisement for his daughter’s upcoming show at Sawtooth Kitchen, a restaurant and nightclub. “It clearly wasn’t a toilsome drawing, but he still made it really eye-catching,” she said. “He might be a global artist, but he can still bust out a ﬂyer for his daughter’s band’s gig at the chicken place.”

In fact, he doesn’t seem to need any audience for his art. Among the hundreds of books on his foyer shelves is a collection of some of Liniers’ favorites — Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse , the complete works of Franz Ka a, James Joyce’s Ulysses — covered in his handdrawn and watercolored dust jackets. Over the years, he’s made about 60 of these, and each one is a meticulous work of art, the sort of project in which you could imagine Liniers losing himself for an entire afternoon. Most people will never see them. ➆

IVisionary Gifts

Mary Ho man’s thoughtful planning ensured her values would live on after she passed away through the donations she made to beloved Vermont institutions

n October 2024, Elise Brunelle, executive director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO), received a surprising letter. It informed her that a donor named Mary Ho man left the VSO a substantial six-ﬁgure gift in her will. Ho man, who died in July 2024, was a regular supporter of the VSO and had been attending the concerts in the Classical Series since 2005, but Ho man was a private person. Brunelle had no idea that she’d planned to give a posthumous gift.

Brunelle began speaking with other local nonproﬁts and quickly learned that the VSO was not the only organization impacted by Ho man’s generosity. Six other Vermont institutions received letters just like hers: Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Museum, the Nature Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust, Wake Robin and the Vermont Community Foundation. It quickly became apparent that Homan’s legacy would have a meaningful impact across the state.

Ho man was a philanthropist throughout her life, but these gifts

were made possible by careful planning for the future. During her lifetime, she had a donor advised fund through the Vermont Community Foundation, a public charity that’s home to hundreds of funds and individual giving accounts created by Vermonters to serve charitable goals. Ho man made grants that reﬂ ected her values through the White Heather Fund, named after her

sailboat. Ho man’s advisor at the VCF, Emilye Pelow Corbett, also encouraged Ho man to consider how planned giving could continue her legacy after her death, and Pelow Corbett put together a broader estate plan for the future.

“Planned giving allows you to support the causes that are really important to you,” Pelow Corbett said. “It can be an extension of the

philanthropy you practice during your lifetime.” While she acknowledges that planning can feel intimidating at ﬁrst, Pelow Corbett said, “The joyful part comes afterward — when fundholders feel the relief of having a plan in place and the satisfaction of knowing their giving will continue to make a di erence. It’s a bit like wrapping a gift and tucking it away: You haven’t given it yet, but already you feel the joy of imagining how it will impact someone.”

Many Vermont nonproﬁts rely heavily on philanthropy and estate gifts to support their programming — especially right now, as federal funding for the arts continues to be reduced. “These contributions help us do the work that allows us to be a robust cultural state that has so much to o er,” Brunelle said.

‘She Would’ve Wanted to Inspire Others’

Though Vermont institutions beneﬁted from Mary Ho man’s philanthropy, she wasn’t a native Vermonter. Born in

beloved

Mary Ho man hiking at Wake Robin

Elise Brunelle, executive director of the VSO

January 1927 in Kearny, N.J., Ho man moved with her family to Cleveland, Ohio, where she went to high school and studied chemistry at what is now Case Western Reserve University. In 1949, she began working as a quality engineer for General Electric and earned 17 patents over the course of her career.

In 2005, Ho man moved from Ohio to Wake Robin, a life plan community in Shelburne. While she was there, she was heavily involved in several committees at the residence, including the Nature Committee, the Music Committee and the Middleton Fund, which decides how to spend money for programming there. She spearheaded Wake Robin’s recycling program and volunteered her time to

speak with prospective residents and give tours of the property.

“Whenever I saw her, she always had a smile for me,” said MaryBeth Dudley, director of community advancement at Wake Robin. “She was a focused and thoughtful person to be around, and she was always either in nature or talking about helping nature.”

Ho man was involved with many projects during her time at Wake Robin, but one that Dudley remembers fondly was her e ort to develop the community’s frog swale — a specially designed amphibian habitat. Ho man was passionate about it. One of the walkways at Wake Robin crosses a stream, and Ho man proposed that they turn it into a frog swale. Her committee began allocating resources and doubled its size. “Since then, residents have seen frogs there. Just the other day, I heard about people enjoying the activity seen in the swale,” Dudley said.

Pelow Corbett said she spoke with

Ho man often about nature and the environment when advising her fund. Ho man lost her eyesight near the end of her life, but she remained passionate about going on walks. “When she was younger, she loved to go sailing,” Pelow Corbett said, noting that her fund is named for her sailboat. “Being on the water and being in nature was just so ingrained in her.”

When she died, Ho man had no living family members. She hoped to leave a legacy behind by supporting organizations that shared her values. “She would’ve wanted to inspire others to do the same,” Pelow Corbett added.

The Impacts of Planned Giving

Sue Dixon, special gifts o cer at Shelburne Farms, has been on the development team there for 28 years. Over that period of time, she got to know Ho man.

“She was so devoted to nature and education and Vermont,” Dixon said. From her conversations with Ho man, she knew that Ho man appreciated the programming that Shelburne Farms did locally for schoolchildren and the relationships they had with local educators. Ho man made an annual gift to the farm, but Dixon was surprised to receive a letter from Homan’s lawyer with news of the planned gift, which will add to Shelburne Farms’ endowment.

“It will support all the things Mary loved about Shelburne Farms forever, like the trails, the food system and the educational work,” Dixon said.

About half of the farm’s budget comes from charitable donations, making these types of gifts integral to its operation. “It is amazing how expensive it is to maintain this place,” Dixon added.

Tom Denenberg, director at the Shelburne Museum, noted that Homan was an engaged member there as well. “She came to openings and always had opinions on the projects,” Denenberg recalled. He was very impressed with her past career as an engineer, especially during a time where there weren’t many women engineers, and valued her input.

“The gift she left us with is substantial, but the nice thing about living in a small place like Vermont is you can do such big things with legacy giving like that. In a bigger community, it might get lost, but it’s going to make a real impact here,” Denenberg said.

Most of the conversations he had with Ho man pertained to the

Shape tomorrow. Start today.

Support the causes closest to your heart through thoughtful estate planning. Whether you’re shaping a gift that will beneﬁt generations to come or building a fund that supports our communities today, our team is here to help you leave an impact that truly reﬂects your values. Let’s have a conversation.

Contact our advisors

Start the conversation at 802-388-3355, opt. 5 or philanthropy@vermontcf.org

Ho man’s donation will be applied to the organization’s conservation and climate action work, helping the Nature Conservancy meet its goal to conserve 30 percent of Vermont’s lands and waters by 2030.

Dixon added that it’s hard to put meaning on a gift, regardless of the amount. “Even just $2 from a child is meaningful to us,” she said.

Denenberg illustrated that point by taking a frame o his wall that contained a note: ‘I really liked my visit to the Shelburne Museum, so I am making a donation. Sincerely, Ellen.’

“Ellen was a child who visited us, and she gave us a $20 bill,” Denenberg said. “No gift is too small. We’ll do good work with whatever it is.”

Planning for the Future

museum’s buildings, so he thinks that the Shelburne Museum will likely do something hands-on and tactile with her gift, either with renovating the buildings or doing garden maintenance. Ho man’s bequest was unrestricted — all of the organizations are free to use the money where it is most needed.

“She didn’t know what challenges we would be facing when she passed and trusted us to determine where the

needs are,” said Eve Frankel, the state director of the Nature Conservancy in Vermont. Frankel said she knew Ho man was very interested in nature and spent a lot of time at Raven Ridge Natural Area, which is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy.

As a senior philanthropic advisor and the director of planned giving at the Vermont Community Foundation, Pelow Corbett has conversations with fundholders every day about the future of their charitable giving. This includes philanthropy during your lifetime and through your estate plans. It can be made with cash or with noncash assets such as retirement accounts, real estate, appreciated stock or even business interests.

“My role is to ask a lot of openended questions to ﬁnd out what you want to achieve,” Pelow Corbett explained. When she spoke with Ho man, she found that she was really focused on community and wanted to choose organizations that were all about supporting people. Pelow Corbett didn’t know that the Vermont Community Foundation itself would receive a gift until after Ho man’s passing. The gift will help the foundation make grants based on Ho man’s areas of interest — the environment, culture and health.

Pelow Corbett said a lot of folks choose the Vermont Community Foundation because they trust their money will stay in Vermont. “You don’t have to be a millionaire. You can give anything that you want, and it can really make an impact in our small state.” ■

Mary Ho man

Tom Denenberg, director of the Shelburne Museum

Chain Reactions

A

retired Bethel couple gravel biked through every town in Vermont and created a free online guide for others to follow

STORY & PHOTOS BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

This ride doesn’t seem too hard, I thought, just as Marcia Gauvin and Chris Leister steered their bikes off the pavement and led me up a long, steep gravel road into the hills of Ludlow. Admittedly, “steep” is a relative term. This year alone the retired Bethel couple have biked nearly 2,000 miles and climbed more than a quarter-million vertical feet, often at much steeper grades. By their standards, the dirt road that kicked my butt last week was a gentle ascent.

Their July 2023 trip up Beartown Road in Sandgate was a different story. During that ride, Gauvin and Leister gained 1,500 feet of elevation over six miles, then descended another three miles at a 21 percent grade on loose gravel and washedout ledges. For reference, Vermont’s notorious Lincoln Gap Road briefly hits a 24 percent grade — on pavement.

“A sane person might rather skip this altogether, and turn around to backtrack the route. Not us!” Gauvin wrote in her description of the trip. “Bear Road was a bear of a ride — if you could even call it riding!”

Last week, Gauvin, 62, and Leister, 70, invited me to join them on the final ride of their four-year project to gravel bike all 252 towns in Vermont. In the process, they’ve documented each ride with GPS-mapped routes, directions, photos and detailed trip descriptions, including interesting attractions along the way. All of their rides are available for free on the couple’s website, 251vtgravelrides.org — tagline: “Biking Vermont One Gravel Road at a Time.”

Gauvin and Leister first got together in May 2021. A longtime runner, she had torn her meniscus, and her doctor suggested that she take up cycling instead.

“I was so bummed,” she recalled. “I knew nothing about biking.”

“But she was a good learner,” Leister said with a smile.

Leister has been a lifelong mountain, road and gravel biker. The Rochester native and licensed EMT served on ski patrol for 41 years. For the past 20 years he’s volunteered with Green Mountain Bike Patrol, providing medical support at marathons and bike races throughout New England. Tall and lean, with calves as taut as rubber bands, he’s logged thousands of miles in the saddle. Gauvin described him as “a tornado in human form.”

When Leister began looking for a new life partner a few years ago, he placed a personals ad in Seven Days, making it clear

that any respondents had to be game for frequent outdoor adventures. Gauvin, who is much shorter but built like a distance runner, reached out.

The couple’s first date was, unsurprisingly, a bike ride. According to Gauvin, it felt more like he was testing her physical stamina.

“I chose a very gentle hill, just to see what she could do,” Leister said. “And she went up and up and up! I figured she’d want to turn around soon. But no, she wanted to keep going.”

Gauvin and Leister climbed more than 1,000 feet that day, and she maintained his pace the entire time. “I thought, This is good,” Leister said.

Soon, Gauvin and Leister were an item. In September 2021, a friend told them about the 251 Club of Vermont, which formed in 1954 to encourage people to visit — and not just drive through — every town in the state. When Leister suggested that they do it on gravel bikes, the couple joined the club and immediately hit the road. By year’s end they had 18 towns under their belts; they added another 53 by the end of 2022. Last year, the pair purchased a 17-foot camper trailer to enable them to

ride through more remote towns in the state without returning home each night. Leister, who founded and still owns an environmental design and permitting company in Bethel, created a spreadsheet to track their progress. He uses a combina-

A SANE PERSON MIGHT RATHER SKIP THIS ALTOGETHER, AND TURN AROUND TO BACKTRACK THE ROUTE. NOT US!

MARCIA GAUVIN

tion of maps from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources’ online atlas and Strava, a popular fitness app, to plot their routes. Many include unmaintained Class 4 roads.

“The rule in my mind is, If it doesn’t have a house or a deer camp on it once in a while, the road probably isn’t there,” Leister said.

SPORTS

Gauvin, a retired technology teacher at Woodstock Elementary School, decided after their first 50 rides that they should create a website so others could replicate their trips. Ironically, the two self-described “data nerds” can’t remember which ride was their first on the path to 252.

“We don’t have rules. We have goals,” she said. The 251 Club of Vermont doesn’t require members to document every town with photos, but Gauvin and Leister do so anyway. And while the couple prefer riding gravel roads, that wasn’t always possible. Winooski, their shortest ride at just one mile, had none. The same was true when they returned to Essex Junction after the town parted company from Essex in July 2022 and became its own municipality. (Like the 251 Club, the couple didn’t update their website address to reflect Vermont’s new town count.)

The couple’s longest ride for this project — they’ve done plenty of cycling that wasn’t meant for picking up new towns — was 60 miles, when they pedaled the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in July 2024. That trip bagged them seven towns in one trip: Swanton, Highgate, Fairfield, Sheldon, Bakersfield, Fletcher and Cambridge.

Marcia Gauvin and Chris Leister in Ludlow

“With only 570 feet of elevation gain per 30 miles, our average speed was way higher and vertical climbing WAY lower per mile than our normal rides,” they wrote on the trip description. Typically, the couple climb 1,000 vertical feet for every 10 miles they ride.

Gauvin and Leister’s largest one-day elevation gain happened during the Tour de Creemee in June 2024. The noncompetitive ride is open to everyone and starts and finishes at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks in East Montpelier. They rode 59 miles over 5.5 hours and climbed more than 6,200 feet, ticking off Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Woodbury and Worcester.

Though the couple had surprisingly few equipment malfunctions, it wasn’t

interesting to see or do in each town, be it Hero’s Welcome general store in North Hero or the new outdoor privy at the East Barnard Church being constructed by retired furniture maker Randy Leavitt.

“We try to find something fun,” Gauvin said, “but sometimes you can’t because you’re in the middle of nowhere.”

On the couple’s final ride in Ludlow, we paused to take photos of a 20-megawatt solar farm operated by Coolidge Solar, followed by a massive utility substation just up the road. The substation provides power to the town of Ludlow and nearby Okemo Mountain Resort. Gauvin, who shoots most of the photos, also stopped to shoot an apiary and a giant rooster sculpture.

all smooth sailing. Two summers ago they rode through Plainfield right after the July floods, with plans to tackle Marshfield and Groton, too. En route to Stillwater State Park, they expected the road to be well maintained.

“It was just gone!” Gauvin recalled. “Just a field of boulders.” A local informed them that a beaver dam had burst and washed out the road. They ended up walking their bikes for much of the route.

The couple’s most disappointing equipment snafu happened last month during a ride that was supposed to include Newport Town, Newport City, Holland and Derby. Early on in their planned 50-mile excursion, Gauvin broke a shifting cable and could only pedal in high gear. Though they managed to hit three towns in 13 miles, “We were going up a hill, so of course we were out of business that day,” Leister said.

While Leister pedaled back to town to get their car, Gauvin sat on the roadside in Derby counting pickup trucks. “I stopped counting when I got to 200,” she said.

One goal of every ride, Gauvin explained, was to find something

As we climbed Chapman Road, Leister got a phone call from one of his employees. While I huffed and puffed up the hill, he fielded the business call without slowing his ascent or breaking a sweat.

“He says he’s retired,” Gauvin said, “which means he works 30 hours a week instead of 80.”

As we neared the top of the hill, something caught Gauvin’s eye: a vintage train car parked beside a house. As she slowed down to photograph it, she didn’t notice that Leister had already stopped in front of her. She rear-ended his bike, knocking the chain off its gear and getting it stuck in the rear spokes. For 20 minutes, our trip was derailed by a railcar and a derailleur.

While Leister wrested the chain free by removing the rear wheel, the equipment snafu gave me a much-needed breather and Gauvin an opportunity to speak to the property owner about the decades-old sleeper car, which once belonged to the Green Mountain Railroad.

By the end of our 9.5-mile journey, we had climbed nearly 1,200 feet. Though I was bushed, Gauvin and Leister looked like they had the energy to pedal our route a second time. “If you ride it in reverse, it’s a completely new ride,” he said enthusiastically.

As we loaded the bikes on the cars, I asked the couple if they felt sad that this was their last town. They didn’t, as they have plenty more bike trips planned for the future.

“We’ve both done a lot of things in our lives, but we’re pretty proud of this project,” Gauvin said with a smile. “My biggest wish is that someone else will do it. That was the whole point.” ➆

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CAR CARE, DELIVERED WITH RESPECT.

Leister with a giant rooster sculpture in Ludlow

DRINK UP

Kingdom Peak

Wildbranch Cider and Barr Hill team up for an annual harvest tradition

STORY & PHOTOS BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Before an eager apple harvesting crew left Craftsbury for orchards around the Northeast Kingdom, Cedar Hannan had a few announcements.

“From various Wildbranch Cider department heads,” Hannan began, eliciting chuckles from the crowd.

The legal department warned about ladders, trees and subpar insurance. Trafﬁc and safety pointed out a treacherous hairpin turn at the Route 100 intersection over Eden Mountain. Community relations explained that an orchard planted in the 1970s by a friend’s late father should be treated with care.

The chuckles were fair: Hannan, 48, is all of those departments, plus owner and cidermaker of Wildbranch, which he founded in 2020. He usually works solo.

On September 30, help showed up. For

the third year, bar and retail employees from Barr Hill came to shake trees, taste apples and learn more about the cider they sell at their Montpelier distillery.

As at least half the crew of 10 proclaimed throughout the adventure from Craftsbury to Westﬁeld to Barton: “It’s the best day of the year.”

Barr Hill has carried bottles of Wildbranch Cider in its Distillery Shop for several years, general manager of hospitality Patrick Amice said. It’s now one of Wildbranch’s top accounts — along with Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro and the Burlington and Stowe farmers markets, where Hannan is a regular vendor.

Wildbranch and Barr Hill also collaborate on special releases: Hannan ages his Orchard Cat cider in barrels that previously held Tom Cat gin, then the distillery takes those barrels back to ﬁnish its Tom Cat Ginniversary Blend. (Tastes of the latter are available at Barr Hill’s cocktail bar, an Outstanding Bar ﬁnalist in the 2024 James Beard Awards.)

“A lot of places would struggle to get 10 people here on their day o ,” Amice said. “Every year, our staff is jumping at the opportunity. They can’t wait.”

It helps that the day falls around peak foliage and ends with a cider-fueled picnic on a picture-postcard NEK hillside. It’s a blast, Amice said, but the experience has a secret mission of helping sta tell the story behind the cider — and behind an important part of Vermont’s working landscape.

Prior to the morning’s warnings, Hannan led a quick tour of the cidery, which occupies a third of the downstairs of a repurposed dairy barn. Two cows and a horse live on the other side of the wall from where he produces 1,200 gallons per year of dry, complex cider from heirloom and wild-foraged apples.

That’s not a lot, as far as commercial cideries go. But Hannan said it’s his “sweet spot.” And Wildbranch has already achieved global acclaim: Hannan’s naturally fermented ciders have won several medals at the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition — the world’s largest contest for ciders made from apples and pears.

Hannan had been a hobby cidermaker for nearly 15 years. In 2020, he planted roughly 90 apple trees on his Craftsbury land, then quit his IT job to launch Wildbranch full

Wildbranch Cider’s Wild2 and Barr Hill Tom Cat Ginniversary Blend

Cedar Hannan (left) and the Barr Hill crew harvesting apples in Barton

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

Pizzeria Verità Co-Owner to Open Italian Café and Shop in Burlington

The co-owner of the Burlington group that runs PIZZERIA VERITÀ, TRATTORIA DELIA and SOTTO ENOTECA will soon open an Italian café and market a couple of blocks from those restaurants. LESLIE

MCCROREY WELLS said she hopes to launch ALIMENTARI in the former Café Saint Paul spot at 196 St. Paul Street by the end of November.

Wells, 64, said her new business will offer a mix of Italian and local food and drink, including beer, wine and espresso. It will sell fresh salads, panini sandwiches, Roman-style pizza, and fresh and frozen to-go meals and ingredients. The latter will include menu staples from the group’s restaurants, such as Trattoria Delia’s Nonna’s meatballs, sourdough bread and herb butter; and Pizzeria Verità’s frozen pizzas and gluten-free pizza dough.

“Everything will be really fresh and made in-house,” Wells said, noting that the café space has a full kitchen to which she will most likely move the group’s fresh mozzarella production. There will be limited indoor seating, plus patio seats through the fall.

Many market products, such as Italian and Vermont meats and cheeses, will cross over from the restaurants, too, Wells said. Alimentari will stock the branded retail products the group already distributes to stores: Trattoria Delia tomato sauce and Pizzeria Verità hot honey.

Wells expects clientele to include Champlain College students who live in the college-owned building, plus locals and tourists. She said Alimentari will complement the group’s trio of nearby restaurants.

“I love going into Eataly, where you have all these options to get wonderful food in different ways,” Wells said, referring to the chain of Italian food halls with retail counters and restaurants. “We’ll open up an opportunity

CONNECT

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

to

get people in the neighborhood, or folks who are walking by during the day when our restaurants aren’t open. It rounds out what we’re doing.”

MELISSA PASANEN

Farmer and the Bell Opens Bakery-Café in Woodstock

A popular doughnut pop-up has launched a bakery-café at 69 Pleasant Street in Woodstock just in time for foliage season. FARMER AND THE BELL held its soft opening on Saturday, October 4, and serves breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Owner-baker APRIL PAULY started selling French crullers from Woodstock’s ANGKOR WAT RESTAURANT in December 2021. The self-taught baker developed her cruller recipe during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, using eggs from her farm’s 100 chickens in the custardy doughnuts. In April 2022, she launched a weekend pop-up at the SIMON PEARCE-owned Parker House in Quechee, drawing crowds for flavors ranging from sugar-and-spice to maple to blackberry lemonade with rose dust.

In February 2023, a “very pregnant” Pauly and her husband, Ben, put the business on pause to “expand our family, slow down for a moment and digest what we’ve learned,” she said — while looking for a permanent home.

Leslie McCrorey Wells

time. The orchard hasn’t produced much yet, but he’s hopeful he might get enough for an estate cider in 2026. It would be good timing: He’s slowly building a structure among the trees with the goal of hosting monthly tastings next year.

For now, Hannan’s apples are either foraged or sourced from other growers around the state, such as Cobble Knoll Orchard in Benson. The majority come from the NEK.

One of those, a seedling crab apple named My Heart, was discovered by Robert Linck, Hannan’s brother-in-law, at his Fusda Farm in Craftsbury. The kumquat-size amber and red crabs have an official entry in Pomological Series: Wild Apple Exhibition Vol. 2, a book documenting the second annual Wild and Seedling Pomological Exhibition in Massachusetts. The entry calls it “a real treasure” and the year’s best crab apple “by a landslide.” Cidermakers from Long Island, N.Y., to New Brunswick, Canada, have grafted it into their orchards, Hannan included.

The Barr Hill group tasted the intense crabs, learning that cider apples aren’t always pleasant when you bite into them. The balance of sugar, acid and tannin is more important, Hannan said. My Heart is high in all three.

After the quick lesson, the group hopped into pickup trucks, navigating that hairpin turn from the community relations announcement on the way to the Westfield orchard.

The apples there were less complex than My Heart and much bigger. There’s no record of what’s planted, Hannan said,

SIDEdishes

The Woodstock resident said she’d “always crushed on” an old service station at the east end of town. After the crumbling building was torn down, she connected with EVA DOUZINAS, who owned the property and planned to replace it with a structure built by local firm Geobarns.

Farmer and the Bell now occupies the new 82-seat space, which features an upstairs mezzanine looking into the glass-walled kitchen, as well as an enclosed patio and outdoor seating. There are 16 parking spots on-site.

“We have a really fun, casual restaurant row going on in the East

THE EXPERIENCE HAS A SECRET MISSION OF HELPING STAFF TELL THE STORY BEHIND THE CIDER.

but he guessed they’re mostly McIntosh or Macoun. The orchard is minimally managed, besides brush hogging and some winter pruning when Hannan has time.

Roger Garufi, Barr Hill’s tour lead, stretched a blue tarp under a loaded tree. Isaiah Mayhew — a local musician who tagged along with his partner, bartender Hannah Lillian Jones — climbed the wooden ladder and scrambled out on a branch, gently shaking off the apples from that section. Flannel-clad helpers zoomed in, placing apples in bins. Garufi moved the tarp, and the process repeated.

“How do we feel about bug holes?” someone asked from behind the tree, picking up apples that had dropped.

“We love bugs,” Hannan replied. “Just no rot and nothing that’s been sitting in bear or deer shit.”

Twenty-five minutes later, the bins were full.

“I like working alone, but that’s the fastest I’ve ever picked 12 bushels,” Hannan said.

“This is what Vermont is all about,” Garufi said. “Entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs.”

Arriving a while later at Windswept Farm in Barton, lead bartender Kurstin King hopped into the bed of one of the trucks to get a better photo of the 360-degree hilltop view: Jay Peak and Québec to the right, May Pond with Bald and Wheeler mountains behind it to the left.

“I could live here,” King said.

“Me, too,” server Kate Powell replied. Adam Parke has since 1979, operating a Christmas tree business until semiretiring this year to focus on sugar making. He planted the orchard’s heirloom trees 45 years ago; some have since been grafted

over. Parke had a hand-drawn map on the back of a plant catalog, Hannan said, but neither is sure how accurate it is these days.

The crew quickly found what it determined to be “a perfect apple.” Shined to ruby red, Jones held it proudly in front of blaze orange and red foliage for a series of glamour shots.

Others hauled bins to two trees in a pasture, which Hannan estimated at 100 years old. The apples tasted pretty good, he said, and were probably higher in sugar than they seemed at first bite. Soon, a large wooden bin in the back of Hannan’s minivan was overflowing with hundreds of pounds of fruit. The trucks were full. Harvest was over.

The following day, Hannan would start pressing. The juice might become part of his crowd-pleasing flagship cider, the Spinney, which is about a third of his total production.

But first, it was time to picnic. Hannan set a table, making the most of the view. Amice unwrapped sandwiches from the Craftsbury General Store, aka the Genny, while Hannan opened a variety of bottles: the Spinney; wild-foraged and fermented Wild2; a crushable sparkling perry; a brightred sour cherry cider; his “oddball” yet very popular rhubarb wine; and a stunning single-varietal cider made with Ashmead’s Kernel.

“Our customers love this one,” Ania Waite said of the Ashmead’s Kernel. “They buy it instead of Champagne.” Hannan popped a second bottle of it, pouring it around to celebrate this year’s successful collaboration. ➆

INFO

Learn more at wildbranchcider.com.

End,” Pauly said, noting that the heart of Woodstock is walkable from her location. The second outpost of Stowe’s RANCH CAMP, a mountain bike shop and restaurant, recently opened nearby at 431 Woodstock Road.

“There’s a lot more energy down here. It’s getting its moment,” Pauly said.

Farmer and the Bell’s starting menu is pared down to serve as many customers as possible, Pauly said. It includes French crullers, focaccia, soups, smoked maple creemees, housemade raspberry lemonade, and drip coffee and cold brew from Middlebury’s LITTLE SEED COFFEE ROASTERS. Offerings will expand week by week to include breakfast sandwiches, focaccia sandwiches, salads and wraps.

JORDAN BARRY

Cedar Hannan

April and Ben Pauly at Farmer and the Bell Kingdom

When Waitsﬁeld chef Nathan Davis heard that even Las Vegas tourism numbers were slumping, he took small comfort in the news.

“If Vegas is dead, that is a telltale sign,” the 44-year-old chef-owner of Scrag & Roe said. “People all over the country are pinching their pennies.”

Davis and fellow restaurant owners around Vermont are feeling that pinch.

On top of general belt-tightening, the state has seen far fewer Canadian tourists this year. Foot traffic has been further depressed for downtown businesses in Burlington and Montpelier due to the well-documented challenges of lengthy construction projects and, in the Queen City, public safety concerns.

To add insult to injury, restaurants, like their customers, are also facing higher food prices and other rising costs.

But rather than roll over or bemoan things beyond their control, some restaurateurs are doubling down and getting creative. They are coming up with fresh ways to draw customers: adding new mealtimes and days of service, running special series, and experimenting with di erent menus.

“Times are tough in the restaurant industry,” acknowledged chef-owner Paul Trombly of Fancy’s in Burlington’s Old North End. “Anything that we can promote to put us on people’s radar is good.”

The bonus for diners is more fun and delicious ways to support local restaurants, whether it’s Detroit pizza-and-dessert nights at Fancy’s or a day devoted to sushi at Scrag & Roe.

Here’s what’s new on the menu at four Vermont eateries.

FANCY PANTS PIZZERIA

Fancy’s, 88 Oak St., Burlington, 448-2106, fancysbtv.com

Trombly, 45, is a Detroit native with a soft spot for his hometown’s signature pizza, which is made with a focaccia-like dough and baked in a pan for a compellingly crisp crust yielding to a pillowy interior.

Since the former Honey Road chef opened his top-notch veg-forward restaurant in Burlington’s Old North End in spring 2024, he has o ered Detroit-style pizza by the $5 slice sporadically. This fall, Trombly launched periodic Fancy Pants Pizzeria Sundays with desserts provided by a star-studded list of local pastry chefs.

Each pizza ($26) has nine fat squares and feeds two to three adults. There are two ﬂavor choices — maybe broccolini with

dairy-free pistachio-cardamom, and cinnamon swirl snickerdoodle.

She came with friends to the September 28 pizza night and thinks the series is a great idea. Because each is unique, she said, “it draws people, like, I have to go.”

CUBAN CAFETERÍA

Santiago’s Cuban Cuisine, 3 Main St., Burlington, 540-2444, santiagosvt.com

Around 2 p.m., on a recent Wednesday, chef-operator Oscar Arencibia was pingponging back and forth between the bar and the dining room at Santiago’s Cuban Cuisine, ﬁlling water glasses and greeting customers who’d wandered in for a late lunch.

New on the Menu

How Vermont restaurateurs are innovating to draw customers in tight economic times

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

roasted garlic, feta béchamel and pickled Fresno chiles — and one is always vegan. The tight menu includes a couple of veggie sides, such as an excellent Brussels sprout Caesar ($17).

Unlike on regular nights, there are no reservations. On September 28, Fancy’s sold through its 51 prepped pies, including limited takeout preorders, by 7:15 p.m.

For Trombly, the series is a way to remind people about his restaurant, which is a little o the beaten path for many diners.

It’s also rewarding, he said, to partner with “a bunch of awesome people in town who make really good sweets.”

The three remaining dates on October 12 and 26 and November 2 will feature Maria Lara-Bregatta of Colchester’s Café Mamajuana, Amanda Wildermuth of Burlington’s Honey Road and Grey Jay, and Carey Nershi of the seasonal bakeshop at Hinesburg’s Red Wagon Plants, respectively. Nershi, 43, will bake a cookie trio: vegan tahini-miso chocolate chunk, gluten- and

Arencibia, 49, handed his guests a new counter-service daytime menu titled Cafetería Santiago’s, which includes Cuban co ee and tropical fruit shakes ($3.50 to $7), empanadas ($6), croquetas ($9), and other small plates.

Customers can swing by for a classic café Cubano ($3.50) and a guava-andcheese pastry ($5) starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday through Friday. The restaurant’s signature Cuban sandwich and makeyour-own rice and salad bowls with choice of rice, beans, and roasted pork lechón, beef ropa vieja or a vegan vegadillo (all $18) are available at noon.

Though Santiago’s has been predominantly a dinner restaurant since it opened about two years ago, Arencibia said that by midmorning, “I’m usually here. My prep team is already here. Why not open the doors?”

Beyond adding midweek daytime hours, Arencibia is now open on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. for what he calls Siesta Saturday with tapas, such as ceviche avocado toast ($16) and salt cod fritters ($12), paired with Caribbean cocktails (from $13). He’s also trying out late-night hours from Tuesday through Thursday, serving drinks and snacks, such as empanadas and croquetas, after 9 p.m.

“The more we’re open, the more people know about us,” Arencibia said. “Business begets business.”

LET’S DO BRUNCH

Sotto Enoteca, 150 St. Paul St., Burlington, 864-5453, sottoenotecavt.com

Tucked down a staircase just o the corner of Main and St. Paul streets, the Sotto Enoteca wine bar is the lowest proﬁle of three co-owned Italian restaurants that include Trattoria Delia and Pizzeria Verità. Sotto and Tratt, as they are nicknamed,

Classic Fancy Pants pizza with pickled Fresno peppers

Sweet corn pancakes with nectarines at Sotto Enoteca MELISSA

share a kitchen and sta . It was the sta , co-owner Leslie McCrorey Wells said, who suggested starting Sunday brunch over the summer in the intimate wine bar.

Wells, 64, had been talking with her team about expanded hours. “My accountant always reminds me that the restaurants that are doing better are the ones that are open more days,” she said. “Your overhead costs are better distributed.”

She admitted she had some misgivings about adding brunch to busy weekends, but the team was “excited about doing this, and it really showcases Andrea’s talent, too,” she said.

Andrea Battipaglia, Trattoria Delia’s new chef of just over a year, has created a brunch menu that includes garlicky yogurt with poached eggs, pesto, Calabrian chiles and house-baked sesame focaccia ($15); lemon ricotta pancakes with fruit compote ($13); and grilled ham-and-cheese panini with ﬁg jam on focaccia ($15).

Wells also just shared with Seven Days that she will open a new café and market called Alimentari on St. Paul Street this fall. (See page 35.) It will further leverage the group’s sta and kitchens and help with buying power, too, she said.

Besides, Wells added, “It’s the kind of thing I’ve always wanted to do.”

ROLL WITH IT

Scrag & Roe, 40 Bridge St., Waitsﬁeld, 496-3911, scragandroe.com

With out-of-town traffic down signiﬁcantly this year, Scrag & Roe’s Davis knew he had to do something to pull in the locals. His secret weapon turned out to be longtime friend and fellow cook Ira Beaver, who had studied for years under some serious sushi chefs in Florida.

In the spring, Scrag & Roe built on its reputation for pan-Asian cuisine by adding Sushi Sundays with seafood sourced by Wood Mountain Fish. The menu of freshly made rolls and sushi ranges from $10 to $21 for classic spicy tuna and yellowtail rolls, creative chef rolls such as veggie with shiitake mushrooms and avocado, and simple sushi and sashimi.

Demand for (mostly) raw ﬁsh “took our slowest day and turned it into our busiest,” Davis said.

Scrag & Roe has since expanded Sunday hours through the evening and recently added some rolls to its regular lunch menu.

In addition, Davis is trying out industry-night Mondays just in his barroom with $15 plates. All guests may partake, even if they’re not hospitality

November 8 & 22

December 13

January 10 & 24

February 14 & 28

March 14 & 28

April 4 & 18

The “tasty vittles” menu and its purposefully kitschy use of Comic Sans font are tongue in cheek; the misoand-butter seared scallops and leeks with Vietnamese sausage, mint and lemongrass sound wholly tongue-pleasing. ➆

Sushi at Scrag & Roe

Cuban sandwich at Santiago’s Cuban Cuisine

On a 2007 outing to the Northeast Kingdom, Tyler Alexander stopped by the Westlook Cemetery in Glover to visit his grandfather’s grave. While there, Alexander’s father pointed out the headstone of a Civil War soldier named Dan Mason, etched with a long list of battles in which Mason had fought. Alexander and his father, both American history bu s and descendants of a soldier in Mason’s unit named Elijah Stone, marveled at how much Mason had experienced in his 26 years.

Years later, Alexander discovered an extensive collection of Mason’s Civil War letters to his hometown sweetheart, Harriet Clark, housed at the Vermont Historical Society library in Barre. Hoping to learn more about his own genealogy, Alexander began combing through the letters in 2020. He soon realized that the more than 100 missives from Mason — who served as a soldier in the Sixth Vermont Infantry, then as an o cer in the 19th U.S. Colored Troops — were remarkable, both for their vivid descriptions of war’s harsh realities and as a window into what motivated a young man from a rural Vermont town to ﬁght. Alexander was especially struck by the passion and eloquence with which Mason, a white rank-and-ﬁle o cer with no more than a high school education, wrote about the moral wrong of slavery.

BOOKS

Transcribing Mason’s words, Alexander came to believe that the soldier’s story and its lofty themes had the makings of a book. He began writing, interspersing Mason’s letters with historical commentary and other documents that shed light on the national context of the time.

The ﬁnal product, If I Can Get Home This Fall: A Story of Love, Loss, and a Cause in the Civil War, was published last month by the University of Nebraska Press. The cover displays a painting of Mason’s brigade by Vermont Civil War veteran and noted artist Julian Scott. While seeking permission to use Scott’s painting, Alexander discovered that it was owned by the University of Houston in Texas and would soon be up for auction. In May, Lyman Orton, owner of the Vermont Country Store, purchased the painting for $110,000. It will be displayed in the Vermont Statehouse later this fall. Alexander, who taught for 17 years at North Country Union High School in Newport and now teaches U.S. history and AP U.S. government and politics at Champlain Valley Union High School in

His Story

A new nonﬁction book gives remarkable insight into one Vermonter’s Civil War experience

BY ALISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

Hinesburg, celebrated the book’s publication in early September with a launch party at the Glover Town Hall. Speakers included Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and Civil War historian Howard Co n.

Several weeks after that event, the 41-year-old Richmond resident sat down with Seven Days to talk about his book and

his work as a history teacher during a politically fraught time.

When did you become interested in the Civil War? And how has your understanding of the war evolved?

My ﬁrst exposures were through my father. I remember him, when I was probably only

7 or 8 years old, explaining the Gettysburg campaign to me. I just found it to be so irresistible and grand. That was also when Ken Burns’ documentary The Civil War came out. I remember watching it when it aired live. It’s been criticized since; parts of it are certainly dated. There’s deﬁnitely a lot of sympathy for Confederate leaders, but I didn’t understand all of that at the time.

In college and beyond, I learned more about Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and the politics of the time — and how nuanced and complicated it was. I took a course in 2017 with David Blight, a prominent Civil War historian at Yale University, while he was writing his Pulitzer Prizewinning biography of Douglass. So that was very transformational.

During Obama’s presidency, we had conversations about the meaning and legacy of the Civil War that we hadn’t, probably, since the 1960s. That also brought the war into focus in a new way for me, with more of an emphasis on race than had been present in the 1990s.

When did you ﬁrst learn you had a relative, Elijah Stone, who was a Civil War soldier?

My middle name is Elijah, so I was very familiar with that. But I didn’t know much about him until I was probably 20 and realized that we had some of his letters. They were written during the height of Grant’s Overland Campaign toward Richmond, Va.; Vermont su ered horribly in that campaign. That really drew my attention to the scale of carnage and loss. And my ancestor was there, in the thick of it, so I wanted to learn more about the enlisted troops and what motivated them. I became much more interested in trying to understand the war from the bottom up, the gritty details of carrying eight days’ worth of rations in your haversack and marching on these dusty Virginia roads for 20 miles a day in a hot wool uniform without a change of clothes and then having to do it again the next day. It may sound a little sentimental or cliché, but I can’t help but admire that conviction and that endurance. I’ve never been asked to do anything like that, so I’m in no position to minimize the idealism and the bravery and heroism.

What were some of the reasons young men like Dan Mason enlisted in the war?

There are any number of motives, as in any war. But I do think that the Civil War

Dan Mason in 1864

is unique in many respects, in that there was a real sense, especially after the Confederate ﬁring on Fort Sumter, that this was treason and cannot be tolerated. And what good are we as a democracy if we have a free and fair election and the loser secedes from the Union and then ﬁres on federal property?

But what I argue in the book is that it’s not just about that. There [was], in Vermont, a real conviction — not just from a radical fringe minority, but a mainstream conviction — that slavery is a moral wrong. The conventional narrative is that abolitionism was something that the elites favored and most of the ordinary soldiers who took up arms for the Union could care less about slavery and were only in it to preserve the Union. But in Vermont there was a real groundswell, from the bottom up, of antislavery sentiment.

How often do you use primary sources, such as letters, with your students, versus, say, a textbook? I use primary sources all the time, in every course. I don’t want history to be a dry subject for students. I want it

to feel relevant and meaningful and to humanize individuals who have been a ected by the grand sweep of history — and for students to feel a connection not just to the major players and the elites but to ordinary people, including men and women from here in Vermont. If you can think about the past as somebody else’s present and try to understand through their eyes the decisions that they were making with the information that they had available at the time, it becomes much more tangible and awe-inspiring.

As a teacher and historian, how do you view attempts by the Trump administration to remove information that reﬂects negatively on our country from museums and exhibits?

I think there is a risk, a danger, of sanitizing history and only focusing on a triumphal narrative. I think the Civil War is ultimately a triumphant story, but then,

in the aftermath, Reconstruction fails, and we go back in time. And so that’s important to remember, too.

So yes, we can focus on the noble aspects of our past. But we have to remember the ugly parts, too. We would do a gross disservice to ourselves if we scrubbed that clean because it makes us feel uncomfortable. There are so many stories to be told. And the more stories that we have, the better, the richer the narrative is. So why would you not want to tell certain stories? That just seems historically irresponsible. History is ultimately a search for the truth. ➆

This interview was edited for clarity and length. INFO

If I Can Get Home is Fall: A Story of Love, Loss, and a Cause in the Civil War, by Tyler Alexander, University of Nebraska Press, 344 pages. $36.95.

Author event with Tyler Alexander, ursday, October 9, 7 p.m., at Pierson Library in Shelburne. Visit tyleralexandervt.com for more upcoming talks.

Happy Landings

BY ALEX BROWN

It won’t take more than the opening number in Northern Stage’s exciting production of Come From Away for most viewers to feel magic at work. The musical unleashes everything live performance can do in sound, motion, space, story and song. Twelve actors become a vast crowd of people; 12 chairs become a plane, a school, a bus; 12 voices become an orchestra of humanity.

Director Carol Dunne and choreographer Kyle Brand give viewers an everchanging vantage point on the true story of some 16,000 people caught in one of the shock waves of 9/11. When the U.S. closed all airspace after the al-Qaeda attacks, pilots were directed to land immediately, and 38 planes were diverted to an airport on the Canadian island of Newfoundland. These planes contained about 7,000 passengers with plenty of cultural and language di erences.

In Come From Away , the Gander airport is very large, while the town beside it is small — rustic small, two cops small, good manners small. The 9,000 residents immediately take it upon themselves to accommodate the grounded passengers. What the townsfolk call the “plane people” will need food, places to sleep, clean clothes and showers. Mostly, they’ll need a warm welcome, and the Newfies of Gander proceed to o er it.

This story of helping hands is told through a chorus of voices. Irene Sanko and David Hein, the Canadian wife-andhusband team who wrote the show’s book, music and lyrics, create astonishing blends of sound to convey both calm and chaos. Early on, the ensemble speaks the simultaneous garble of pilots and air traffic controllers. Isolated voices bring us back to the tragedy and uncertainty of that September day.

Sanko and Hein based their story on actual residents of and visitors to Gander. The authors can be accused of giving us little more than their research notes because they stu in dozens of characters with no time for depth. But in Northern Stage’s production, these people become pieces of a mosaic.

When it opened on Broadway in 2017 and became a surprise hit, Come From Away was also criticized for being either too sweet or too soon. Dunne’s production, which ﬁts a huge story into an intimate

space, is a good deal more than a message of hope. It’s about being lost in a crowd, then found.

All the instruments of theater are at work. Harmonies rise to the roof; lighting intensifies every mood; choreography transforms space and emotion. The live music, punctuated by pipes and fiddle in a six-piece band, trots with a modern indie twist on Irish trad. The characters are oversimplified but shine bright, like faces in a crowd. And voices emerge from darkness.

“Tom, is that you?” a mother asks. “Tell the kids I’m ﬁne,” a pilot says. A rising tide of overlapping speech carries the small messages that thousands struggled to send and receive on 9/11. Later, those voices will lift in prayer to di erent gods with the same simple plea. And after being stranded for several days, a chorus of angry voices will clamor as impatience, fear and discomfort overwhelm the stranded travelers and the people trying to help them.

Virtually every song is a full ensemble number, a story happening to everyone. The performers are superb singers, and the sound mix brings the main vocals forward against a supporting choral background, all draped over the band’s rolling beats and ﬁgures. Sonic dimension is the show’s hallmark.

The 12-person cast handles approximately 80 roles, some of them meaty but

most mere postage-stamp portraits. The small ones are all the more engaging for the quick-change transitions. At a time of crisis, all the characters are coping with what it means to be a stranger, to be trusted or mistrusted. The entire company is constantly transforming to become a world of people who don’t know each other.

Among many roles tackled by the ﬁrstrate cast, Nicole Michelle Haskins and Lisa Karlin o er moving solos; Benjamin Howes and Susan Haefner play a surprise love story; J. Bailey Burcham is an outgoing cop and a shy rabbi; Annie Torsiglieri is a voice-of-reason townie and out-of-control passenger. Kate Budney and Serena Brook juggle comic roles while Albert Jennings and Kevin David Thomas portray a gay couple whose bond breaks. Tom Ford is both narrator and mayor, and Darius Wright, as a wary New Yorker, discovers how kind strangers can be.

The musical turns facets of chance meetings into an image of what it feels like to plunge into a crowd. A silly ritual in which everyone gets drunk and some plane people are proclaimed honorary Islanders could be unbearably cute, yet it captures the reckless abandon people feel in groups. And a scene of anxious passengers walking in the dark toward the unknown shows how fear makes everyone feel alone.

Dunne keeps the production tonally perfect, moving conﬁdently from light to dark and never blurring the two. Sorrow and fear emerge often, but running jokes and exuberance predominate. The creative team contributes innovative lighting, clever costumes and a versatile set that depicts an airplane hangar where ever-shifting chairs can convert into anything, from a backyard to a chapel to a classroom.

The ensemble tunes that often combine spoken and sung lines make the musical feel like one continuous song. Characters who ﬂicker rapidly still leave an impression, deep in an experience that will change them.

The musical runs its feel-good throttle wide open, down to stitching a slightly desperate ﬁnale from postscripts on how the characters fared 10 years later. But the power of Come From Away is in the di erent voices, accents and languages that become a stirring multitude. ➆

INFO

Come From Away, book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, directed by Carol Dunne, produced by Northern Stage. rough October 26: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; ursdays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. (noon on October 16); and Sundays, 5 p.m., at Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction. $28-100. northernstage.org

e cast of Come From Away

Doug & Renee Kievit-Kylar SUPER READER SINCE MARCH 2020

Welcome, new Super Readers!

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

Linda Caruso Haviland Ryan Chafﬁ n Martha Dallas Carolyn Gregson

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

Elyssa Back

Morton Bostock

Miriam Boyle

Barbara Carlson

Hilary Casillas

Liz Curry

Alex Dostie

Karen Frost

Jan Fontaine

Dave Friedman

Valerie Gillen

Michael & Sarah Green

Cynthia Jackson

Anne Jefferson

Patience Merriman

Letha Mills

Nancy Nesbitt

Susan & Hans Ohanian

Linda Retchin

Justin Trombly

David Mccolgin

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

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

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4T-parks&rec100825 1

For fty years, I’ve been kind of a musical ambassador for America around the world. I have this song, “Land of Hope and Dreams,” which is kind of a prayer to the country and we play it every night.

I know for a fact that it’s how many people around the world see our country. Not as a land of fear, not as a land of divisiveness, not of government censorship, not hatred. And I basically believe that’s an America that’s worth ghting for.

— BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Making Waves

Deb Fleischman brings an ocean of public art to Montpelier

a couple local newspapers. Fleischman lives on a busy street with lots of foot tra c, and she estimates that hundreds of people have visited. It was important to her to share “Kelpy” with the public, and she enjoys meeting the strangers who show up. She has also planted ﬂower boxes downtown and would like to bring more public art projects to Montpelier.

What did the students think of this installation?

Over the summer, Deb Fleischman transformed her Montpelier driveway with an interactive art installation that one could cheekily describe as “new wave.” To create the illusion of an underwater kelp forest, she hung 765 satin ribbons in 12 shades of green and blue from deer netting over her 10-by-10-foot parking spot. Visitors are welcome to walk through the display, titled “Kelpy, ”

and experience an artistic ecosystem of oceanic color.

In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger did just that. She met Fleischman and joined students from nearby Main Street Middle School for a dive into the immersive installation.

We experienced “Kelpy” with a school counselor, Jenna Bravakis, and a group of sixth and seventh graders. It was interesting to see how di erent people waded into the watery depths. Some visitors spun around merrily, and others stood still and soaked it up. It is not a large sculpture, but when you’re in it, your perspective shifts and it feels like an underwater world.

After the students left, I stood in “Kelpy” with Fleischman and Miller, who constructed the wood frame and cable system for the project. We were joined by their neighbors Patti Casey and Will Forest. It struck me how di erent it was having a casual conversation amid a sea of colorful, undulating ribbons.

Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about ﬁlming the episode.

three years ago. If you do an online image search for “ribbon installation,” there are hundreds of photos of projects from around the world. Fleischman did a lot of research but had di culty ﬁnding a stepby-step guide. It took her a few months to ﬁgure out how to bring this project to life, and she had some help from her partner, Gary Miller, and her friends Gordon Grunder, Ally Tarwater and Jesse LoVasco.

How can people see “Kelpy”?

How did “Kelpy” come about?

What has the reaction been?

Fleischman was inspired by a massive ribbon installation that she saw in Portugal

“Kelpy” was featured in the October 3 Montpelier Art Walk and on the cover of

You can visit 24 North Street in Montpelier through November 15. Fleischman hopes that a school, hospital or gallery will then bring the installation indoors so even more people can experience it. ➆

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

751: Ribbon Kelp Forest

Deb Fleischman; inset: students from Main Street Middle School

• October 8: Is it time to (re)insulate your

• October 15: Why heating your home isn’t as simple as you may think.

• October 22: How to button up your home

• October 29: Demystifying heat pumps

on screen

Anemone ★★★★

Remember when Daniel Day-Lewis last announced his retirement from acting, in 2017? Or the time before that? From many celebrities, repeated pronouncements of being done with the profession might sound like a publicity stunt, but from an actor this exacting about his material and craft, they carry weight. Luckily for all of us, Day-Lewis decided to return after all, this time in a ﬁlm he cowrote with his son Ronan Day-Lewis, who also makes his directorial debut with Anemone

The deal

Working-class Jem Stoker (Sean Bean), who lives in the north of England, prepares for a trip to see his estranged brother, Ray (Daniel Day-Lewis), who has spent the past 20 years in hermitic seclusion. Ray forbade Jem to disturb him except in case of emergency. But a situation has arisen that Jem and his wife, Nessa (Samantha Morton), believe merits the term. Nessa’s troubled son, Brian (Samuel Bottomley), has gone AWOL from the army after attacking a fellow soldier for a remark about his family history.

Deep in the woods near the coast, Ray lives in a sturdy hovel with a generator, a woodstove, a crossbow and his vinyl record collection — a bare-bones yet borderlinecozy setup. He and Jem have plenty to say to each other, rehashing the past as they ramble, swim, hunt and drink their way through a couple of days. But Ray becomes angry and evasive when Jem makes it clear what he wants — for Ray to reclaim a responsibility he abandoned long ago.

Will you like it?

Most viewers will come to Anemone expecting electrifying revelations to emerge from Ray and Jem’s conversations, because that’s what the format of two-hander chamber dramas has trained us to anticipate. With cast and context pared down to a minimum, we wait with bated breath for a payo to the chilling opening sequence, in which the camera pans along a series of increasingly disturbing child’s drawings clearly depicting the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The movie prompts us to wonder how the Stoker men were involved in the violence and what sort of reckoning is approaching.

Though we do eventually get answers, the secrets gradually revealed in Anemone

REVIEW

aren’t explosive or original, and the conﬂict between the brothers doesn’t yield the ﬁreworks we may be expecting. There’s poetry in the screenplay, but it doesn’t lie in the rusty plot mechanics.

Rather, it’s in the rhetorical embroidery and bravado of Ray’s language as he ﬁlls in pieces of his past of which his brother wasn’t aware. While calling these monologues “Shakespearean” would be generous, they are well wrought, and Day-Lewis plays them to the hilt. He commands the screen so fully that when Ray soliloquizes, everything else drops away, and Anemone seems to need no raison d’être beyond setting him loose on the material.

Equally poetic are the lush visuals, which keep this minimalist conceit from feeling as if it belongs more on the stage than the screen. Ronan Day-Lewis is also a painter, and the more surreal scenes of Anemone feature mysterious motifs — an apocalyptic storm, an ursine ﬁgure — that also appear in his 2024 Hong Kong exhibition “That Summer We All Saw Them.” Director of photography Ben Fordesman (Saint Maud, Love Lies Bleeding) gives the sylvan and seaside landscapes the texture and drama of oil paintings.

Combine these painterly images with Bobby Krlic’s throbbing score and the director’s deliberate, magisterial pacing, and you have the definition of a mood piece. In the symbolically laden world of Anemone, a house might suddenly lose one of its walls to become a glittering jewel box of a diorama against the velvety night. In another scene, a memory literally hovers like a phantom; in others, the blue shades of Brian’s room manifest his psychological state.

The less you focus on what’s actually happening in the movie, the more you sink under its spell. Its visual language speaks eloquently of rage and redemption and the need for ritual catharsis and healing. But if a pesky literalness plagues you, you may ﬁnd yourself growing impatient with the characters for their seeming inability to work out their di erences like normal people.

Anemone ends up feeling like an aesthetically immaculate apologia for being a deadbeat dad. If you catch its vibe, there’s power here, and Ronan Day-Lewis shows clear promise as a ﬁlmmaker. As distinguished older thespians ranting and muttering in the wilderness go, Day-Lewis

père gives Ralph Fiennes in 28 Years Later a run for his money, and he doesn’t even need a bone palace. Yet one can’t help feeling for Brian and Nessa, who are stuck at home waiting for the patriarch to sort out his head.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

“SAY NOTHING” (one season, 2024; Disney+, Hulu): Based on a nonﬁction book, this drama series covers four tumultuous decades of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (2024; Disney+, Hulu, rentable): Like Anemone, this acclaimed drama delves into the sins covered up by the church. Cillian Murphy plays a coal merchant investigating his Irish village’s dark history in Tim Mielants’ adaptation of Claire Keegan’s novel.

PHANTOM THREAD (2017; Netflix, rentable): If you missed Day-Lewis’ most recent performance, it could be time to check out this understated, underrated period piece from Paul omas Anderson (One Battle After Another) in which the actor plays an exacting dressmaker in midcentury London.

Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean play brothers hashing out family business in a drama stronger on mood than story.

NEW IN THEATERS

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN: In an adaptation of the stage musical that followed the 1985 film, two cellmates (Diego Luna and Tonatiuh) bond over a Hollywood icon (Jennifer Lopez). (128 min, R. Essex, Savoy)

ROOFMAN: Channing Tatum plays a fugitive from the law who hides out in a big-box toy store and falls for an employee (Kirsten Dunst) in this fact-based dark comedy from Derek Cianfrance (Sound of Metal). (126 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Welden)

SOUL ON FIRE: John O’Leary plays Christian memoirist Joel Courtney in this inspirational biopic, also starring William H. Macy and directed by Sean McNamara. (111 min, PG. Essex, Majestic)

TRON: ARES: In the sequel to 2010’s Tron: Legacy, Jared Leto plays a computer program on a mission to meat space. Greta Lee and Evan Peters costar in the action adventure, directed by Joachim Rønning. (119 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Playhouse, Star, Sunset, Welden)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

ANEMONEHHH1/2 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, Savoy; reviewed 10/8)

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. Stowe)

BONE LAKEHHH 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)

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. Majestic, Paramount)

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALEHHH1/2 In 1930, a public scandal threatens the Crawleys’ social position. (123 min, PG. Capitol, Majestic, Stowe)

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. Majestic)

GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE: In an animated spin-off of the Netflix family series, the title character road trips to “Cat Francisco” to save her dollhouse from a cat lady (Kristen Wiig). (98 min, G. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Welden)

GOOD BOYHHH1/2 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. (72 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Paramount)

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)

THE LONG WALKHHHH In this adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, young men in a dystopian world compete in a grueling contest. (108 min, R. Essex, Majestic; reviewed 9/17)

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHERHHHH1/2 Paul Thomas Anderson directed this saga of an aging ex-revolutionary returning to action, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. (161 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Sunset; reviewed 10/1)

THE SMASHING MACHINEHHH 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. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Sunset, Welden)

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

BLACK BOX DIARIES (VTIFF, Fri only)

CLAIM THE LANE: BECOMING ROXY (Savoy, Wed 8 only)

THE DARK CRYSTAL (Essex, Sun & Mon & Wed 15 only)

GONE GUYS (Savoy, Thu 9 only)

JEREMIAH JOHNSON (VTIFF, Sat only)

PARIS (Catamount, Wed 15 only)

PARIS, JE T’AIME (Catamount, Wed 8 only)

PUPPY LOVE (Playhouse, Wed 8 only)

RIVERS EDGE (Savoy, Wed 15 only)

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Majestic [Fri & Sat only], Sunset)

US (Catamount, Fri only)

VTIFF 2025 SNEAK PREVIEW (VTIFF, Wed 8 only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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, 2290598, savoytheater.com

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

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

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

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

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

Peter Dinklage in Roofman

Fruiting Bodies

Rachel Portesi explores connection and mortality through mushrooms at Saint Mike’s

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

The bright, crisp days of this drought-stricken autumn are hiding something. Under the crackling dry leaves, beneath the yellow grass and dusty ground, a magical constellation of mycelium is waiting and ready to revel in the wet.

Mushrooms are the very deﬁnition of humble, yet Rachel Portesi renders them with the full drama they are due in “The Nature of Things,” on view at the McCarthy Art Gallery at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester through October 31.

In her artist talk on September 18, Portesi, 54, who is primarily a photographer in Saxtons River, recounted how her project started during the coronavirus pandemic. “I’d stopped working with my models while we all hunkered down and the world grew quiet,” she said.

Like many of us, she started going on walks. On one occasion, Portesi recalled, she held a small cluster of oyster mushrooms

her husband had found, looking at them in a way she hadn’t before. “When we got home, instead of bringing them into the kitchen, I brought them right into my studio, and I began photographing them.”

Portesi shoots with a large-format camera, using the 19th-century tintype photographic process to create a unique positive image directly on a plate inside it — think Civil War images or Victorian studio portraits. She then scans the tintypes so she can print them on a large scale. The images aren’t clean. Quirks of exposure and emulsion create a rich textural layer of streaks, thumbprints, dust spots and other variations. Portesi values that lack of control over the ﬁnal image, she said.

The clear connection between process and themes contributes to the strength of her work. Having slowed down to photograph plants and fungi during the pandemic, Portesi said, “I spent hours and days looking at ﬂowers and mushrooms.

And as the mushrooms wilted and the ﬂowers wilted, drooped, discolored and decayed, I found beauty in them at every step of the way — it kind of encouraged me to try to ﬁnd beauty in myself as I age, as well.”

Indeed, the images read as portraits. In “Lion’s Mane,” Portesi blurs some parts of the strange fungus’ hairy surface as others come into crisp view; shadows and highlights give it depth and mystery. Likewise, several pictures of oyster mushrooms spotlight their deep gills and let the rest drop away into darkness.

Scale and printing technique are vital to the experience of these works. They are big — really big, for mushrooms — with several prints enlarged to 40 by 50 inches. Their tactility is palpable, with every wrinkle, dent, structure and smooth surface unignorable, each mushroom bigger than a human face and comparable in presence.

Portesi printed the photographs at Prints on Paper Studio in Cabot, whose expertise in calibrating an extremely dense, dark tonality comes through. In a series of morel mushrooms pictured on a black ground, the physicality of the ink is reminiscent of rich soil. That aspect of the images, as well as the scale, must be seen in person. Looking at each piece, one establishes a true connection with a physical object that can’t be reproduced — more like the experience of a painting than of a photograph.

The idea of connection — to nature, to other people, to the universe — is deeply important to Portesi’s concept of the work, which aims to convey the spiritual aspect of her encounter with the woods. Walking in the forest gave her a sense of unity with nature, she said — and she realized that

“Golden Mushroom Underbelly”

“Tangle of Beech Mushrooms”

THEIR

TACTILITY

IS PALPABLE, WITH EVERY WRINKLE, DENT, STRUCTURE AND SMOOTH SURFACE UNIGNORABLE.

underground mycelial networks mirrored what she felt aboveground.

Portesi began to research spiritual traditions and philosophy, such as Lucretius’ On the Nature of Things from the first century BC, in which he conceptualized the atom. She found the Roman philosopher’s ideas — primarily that nothing vanishes in death, but all particles recombine into something else — embodied by mushrooms and their role in cycles of decay and growth.

In the show, Portesi brings those ideas forward a couple of millennia with works in video and installation. With “Life Cycle,” she has filled one corner of the gallery with tree stumps sprouting tiny video screens, many of them removed from old phones or other devices and wired together. Real clusters of mushrooms emerge from the stumps; virtual ones grow in time-lapse on the screens.

The work suggests that the internet mirrors mycelium networks — which transport food and energy from the roots of one plant to another — while also finding a paradox in that connection. “While it promises unprecedented access to information and community,” Portesi said of the internet, “it can also foster isolation, alienation and fragmentation.”

Many viewers will relate the work

to psychedelic mushrooms, particularly given the inclusion of “Breathing Lion’s Mane” and “Dancing Lion’s Mane,” a short video and video diptych made from digitized tintypes using AI. The lion’s mane mushroom inhales and exhales convincingly; in the diptych, its furry surface undulates in a flowing loop like some kind of Muppet stuck in a dance groove.

Both videos are trippy and, Portesi acknowledged, inspired by past experiences with psilocybin. She is fascinated by recent research into the substance as a mental health treatment, indicating it can provoke feelings, she said, of “unity with all things; transcendence of time and space; deep peace, awe, or sacredness; loss of fear; or even death.” However, she noted, “these are all things that I can access in the forest without the use of psychoactive substances — and I have to say, it’s a little more deeply meaningful.”

The centerpiece of the exhibition is sculptural: mosses, sticks and clusters of mushrooms presented in a human-scale wicker “burial tray” in which, Portesi said, she will one day be interred. She has placed a mirror at its head and included a tiny tintype of mushrooms in a Victorianstyle handheld frame. The piece is Portesi’s version of a memento mori — a reminder of our own mortality, intended to provoke self-reflection and the acceptance of death as a necessary part of life.

It’s an old theme, but one with continuing relevance, perhaps especially following the pandemic. On her walks in the woods, “I had these moments where I felt so connected to everything and so comfortable, even with my mortality,” Portesi said. “I felt safe enough to see myself more clearly.” ➆

INFO

“Rachel Portesi: The Nature of Things,” on view through October 31 at the McCarthy Art Gallery at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. mccarthygallery. smc-artanddesign.space or rachelportesiphotography.com

“Lion's Mane”

“Morel triptych no.3”

EXHIBITION

Middlebury Student Curators Make Enlightenment Cool Again

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

Lest you think the Kids These Days get all their information from TikTok memes and YouTube influencers, you should see how they handle an older media trend: 18thcentury Italian engravings.

For a January winter term course at Middlebury College, 10 undergrads — Nick Anderson, Maya Dolan, Kyra Dybas, William Dyer, Jude Kuykendall, Sofia Marcktell, Elsa Marrian, Tyler Martinelli, Farren Stainton and Ariana Troutman — teamed up with professor and associate dean Pieter Broucke to curate “Giovanni Battista Piranesi: Visions of Grandeur,” on view at the Middlebury College Museum of Art, through December 7.

Piranesi (1720-1778) was a renowned Venetian printmaker and architect. The exhibition is mainly prints and a few drawings encompassing different aspects of his output: architectural plans, sketches, romantic landscapes and fantastical creations. Most are from Middlebury’s collection, with a few on loan from other institutions. It is divided into 10 thematic sections, both in the gallery and in an extensive website documenting the project and the students’ research. From longer papers, they refined their information into short curatorial texts, which appear on wall labels for each piece alongside the students’ names.

Broucke has been interested in Piranesi for many years, since attending architecture school in his native Belgium. He has offered other curation labs before, so when Middlebury recently acquired an ancient Roman urn that Piranesi restored and embellished, alongside an engraving he made of the object, it seemed like the perfect fit for a class and exhibition.

Winter term classes are only four weeks long, Broucke said, so the students had to

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

JOHANNES BELLINKX AND DAAN BRINKMANN: “The Parcel Project,” an art project and journalistic experiment examining the world of shipping and packaging within the global landscape. Amy E. Tarrant Gallery, Burlington, through December 31. Info, 863-5966.

ANDRIA LOVEJOY: A series of paintings of places visited by the artist during a 2024 West Coast of Ireland adventure. South Burlington Public Library Art Wall, through October 31. Info, 846-4140.

PETER HARRIGAN: “Halloween Barbies,” a collection of themed dioramas curated and designed by the artist. South Burlington Public Library Art Wall, through October 31. Info, 846-4140.

PETER HELLER: An exhibition of abstract, biomorphic paintings, many of them at monumental scale, by the late artist, who survived the Holocaust as a child and died in 2002. Front Four Gallery, Stowe, extended through October 31. Info, 279-8240.

SUSAN CALZA: “Monkey House Girls,” an installation in room 309, open Saturdays 1-5 p.m. or by appointment. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier, through October 31. Info, susancalza@gmail.com.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: AMY JELEN: Abstract pieces, landscapes and recognizable Vermont scenes in

ramp up quickly, “because, I mean, Piranesi, important as he is, is not a household name.” They read biographies and catalogs to get up to speed and went on a field trip to the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City to learn from a print specialist. They even went to a commercial gallerist, Broucke said, who talked about the market for historical works and prints — something he thought important for a curatorial class and which isn’t often taught in standard art history. “We came out of the art dealer, and the students said, ‘Well, can we buy a work?’”

Though most prints were well out of their budget, the students persevered and found, through a London dealer, a map of Rome that Piranesi had embellished with illustrations. It was in poor condition and hence had a very low price, relatively speaking — Broucke declined to give an exact number but said it was a fraction of the cost of other Piranesi prints, which can go for tens of thousands of dollars. The museum was able to acquire it with the help of donors and put a few hundred dollars into conservation. “It’s an amazing object,” Broucke said, “and it’s really, really great to have it in the exhibition but also for Middlebury to have that map.”

Other standouts are prints from Piranesi’s “Imaginary Prisons” series, a kind of M.C. Escher-esque fantasy interior of stairs and endless spaces; a tiny (about 3.5 inches square) ink drawing of a set design for a play; and two detailed depictions of Roman columns that are more than 8 feet high.

Aerial views of the Colosseum and of the Baths of Titus are also essentially fantasies — something the students discussed when planning where to place

paper collage inspired by stained glass. University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, through January 20. Info, 865-7296.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: BETTE ANN LIBBY: “Hello Earth,” a series of paintings utilizing upcycled materials such as ceramic shards and discarded house paint. University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, through January 20. Info, 865-7296.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: MATT LARSON: Mixed-media works that seek to balance randomness and accident with order and reason in a manner emulating natural processes. University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, through January 20. Info, 865-7296.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: NATASHA BOGAR: Oil paintings of dramatic landscapes exploring the interplay between light and shadow. University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, through January 20. Info, 865-7296.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: PHIL LAUGHLIN: Vermont landscapes in a variety of seasons and locales, depicted in oil paint on canvas. University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, through January 20. Info, 865-7296.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: SUSAN SMEREKA: Collaged and sewn monotypes exploring themes of memory, place and the body. University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, through January 20. Info, 865-7296.

them in the exhibition. “We didn’t put them with the views of Rome because they’re not really real views — I mean, you need to be in an airplane to see those things, so they’re completely constructed images of what he thought the Colosseum would look like from above,” Broucke said.

The exhibition moves the viewer through Piranesi’s concerns, from the debate about whether Roman or Greek architecture was better to the importance of the Grand Tour of antiquities as a rite of passage for the 18th-century elite to the relationship between nature and history. Students worked closely with the museum’s designer to create a space that’s architectural and minimal, contrasting with the engravings’ lavish style.

“Students, you know — they don’t have a lot of experience, but they sometimes have very good ideas,” Broucke said. “And it’s worth listening to them.” ➆

INFO

“Giovanni Battista Piranesi: Visions of Grandeur,” on view through December 7 at Middlebury College Museum of Art. middlebury.edu/museum

BARBEE HAUZINGER AND HEIDI ALBRIGHT: An exhibition of photographs of Vermont landscapes by Hauzinger and Albright’s painted wood sculptures of snakes. ART, etc., Randolph, through November 22. Info, artetcvt@gmail.com.

‘SOLIDARITY: FABRIC THREAD AND NEEDLE’: A group show of textile works by contemporary artists exploring conceptual, political and narrative concerns, curated by the TwoChairs collective. The Fourth Corner Foundation, Windham, through December 5. Info, info@4cfoundation.org.

GABRIEL TEMPESTA: “Landscape and Wildlife,” a series of paintings of the natural world. Reception: Thursday, October 9, 4:30-6 p.m. CVMC Art Gallery, Berlin, October 9-November 8. Info, 371-4464.

‘FREEDOM AND UNITY’: An exhibition examining the long history of maple syrup in the state, including interactive elements and a replica maple tree. Reception: Thursday, October 9, 3 p.m. Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, ongoing. Info, 828-1414.

DONA ANN MCADAMS: “Black Box,” a collection of 39 documentary photographs that span several decades, highlighting life, arts and activism in New York and San Francisco and across the U.S., including rural Vermont. Reception and artist talk: Thursday, October 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Francis Colburn Gallery, University of Vermont, Burlington, October 7-30. Info, 656-2014.

SACHIKO YOSHIDA ZAHLER: “Garden,” a series of watercolors. Reception: Friday, October 10, 2-4 p.m. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery, St. Johnsbury, October 10-November 13.

LANDON NEWTON: “Maintenance Practice,” a show of recent artworks by the artist and gardener, who works across installation, photography and social practice. Reception: Friday, October 10, 3-5 p.m. Extra Special With Cheese, Burlington, October 10-November 9. Info, extraspecialwithcheese@gmail.com.

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.

BARBARA GARBER: “Shadows and Leftovers,” sculptures made from materials repurposed from past installations. Reception: Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., October 10-November 15. Info, 603-448-3117.

DON WILLIAMS: “Constructed and Assembled,” sculptural works ranging from vessel forms to wall assemblages made from clay and found objects. Reception: Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., October 10-November 15. Info, 603-448-3117.

From top: “Small Map,” Carlo Nolli with Giovanni Battista Piranesi, 1748; “The Staircase with Trophies,” from “Imaginary Prisons,” 1749-1760

ESMÉ THOMPSON: “Recent Paintings,” an immersive work consisting of painted, shaped wooden panels arranged to create a choreographed sequence of design and color that flows through the space. Reception: Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., October 10-November 15. Info, 603-448-3117.

PATRICK DUNFEY: “New Paintings,” works created over the past year on heavy watercolor paper using pure pigments mixed with white and black gesso.

Reception: Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., October 10-November 15. Info, 603-448-3117.

ALEXANDER POPE: “Volumes and Vortices: Organic Improvisations,” a collection of ceramic sculptures inspired by natural phenomena including patterns of growth and decay. Reception: Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., October 10-November 15. Info, 603-448-3117.

THIRD ANNUAL PEOPLE’S ART SHOW: A free, non-juried, uncensored exhibition celebrating all forms of creativity, diversity and imagination. Reception: Friday, October 10, 5-8 p.m. Montgomery Center for the Arts, October 10-26. Free. Info, mcaprogramingdirector@gmail.com.

ZOÉ BEDELL AND PEGGY SMITH: “The Stories They Tell,” an exhibition of utilitarian and sculptural works in ceramic by Bedell alongside a blend of book arts, clay sculptures and manipulated photographs by Smith. Reception: Saturday, October 11, 3-5 p.m. Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery, Burlington, through October 31. Info, 863-6458.

JOYCE KAHN: An exhibition of plein air landscapes, still lifes and portraits by the Montpelier pastel painter. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, October 12-January 9. Info, 426-3581.

ELIZABETH POWELL: “Suspended Structures,” paintings in gouache by the Burlington artist.

Reception and artist talk: Thursday, October 16, noon-2 p.m. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Vermont State University-Johnson, October 14-November 21. Info, 635-1469.

ART EVENTS

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.

WALKING TOUR: ‘MONTPELIER’S BRIDGES — SPANNING TIME AND TECHNOLOGY’: A tour led by Vivian Ladd Tomasi, Montpelier’s Bridge Illumination Project coordinator, to introduce participants to Montpelier Alive’s new digital walking tour and learn about the history of the city’s bridges, as part of the organization’s series of “Cityscape and Landscape” walking tours in October, which meet in the parking lot next to the Drawing Board. The Drawing Board, Montpelier, Thursday, October 9, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 262-6265.

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 9, 7-9 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

‘FALL INTO ART’: A diverse collection of fine arts and crafts including paintings, drawings, theater posters, photography, sculpture, woodworking, dolls, glass and bereavement boxes. Brandon Congregational Church, Saturday, October 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 779-7909.

ART IN THE PARK FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL: The Chaffee Art Center’s 64th edition of the annual event, which features juried fine artists, craftspeople,

specialty food producers, live music, kids’ activities and face painting, plus demonstrations of works in progress, including from the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center. Main Street Park, Rutland, Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, October 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 775-0356.

‘ART AND AUTHOR’: Readings by Montpelier poet daithi and by Walden resident Elizabeth R. McCarthy to accompany works in pastel by Joyce Kahn. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, Sunday, October 12, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

ARTIST TALK: JOEL STERNFELD: A discussion with the artist about his exhibition of large-format color photographs of the American landscape, currently on view. Tickets include admission to the galleries from 2:30 p.m. until the talk. Space is limited; registration required. Hall Art Foundation, Reading, Saturday, October 11, 4-6 p.m. $25; $12.50 for Reading residents. Info, 952-1056.

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 12, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

FIGURE DRAWING: Artists at all levels of experience are invited to draw from a live model. Drawing boards and easels provided; participants bring drawing materials. 18-plus; preregistration required. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Sunday, October 12, 2-4 p.m. $15; $5 for current VSC residents. Info, 635-2727.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, October 13, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

CARVING CIRCLE: A space for printmakers to carve, glue or incise blocks together. Studio tools available; no printing takes place. Two Rivers Printmaking

Studio, White River Junction, Tuesday, October 14, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 295-5901.

DRINK & DRAW: A drop-in event organized by the T.W. Wood Museum. No experience necessary; drawing materials provided. Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, Wednesday, October 15, 5-7 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation; cash bar. Info, 262-6035. ➆

CALLS TO ARTISTS

14TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOWCASE & CRAFT FAIR: Seeking artists and crafters of all kinds to vend at a craft fair on November 22 supporting the Bellows Free Academy Fairfax baseball team’s spring training trip to the Jackie Robinson Training Center in Vero Beach, Fla. Apply online at forms.gle/AaPqy7TdmKhSc1pU8. Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax. Deadline: October 31. Free to apply; vendor fees, $50-75. Info, coachmrsbrown@gmail.com.

‘SMALL WORKS UNDER 12 INCHES’: Seeking submissions of up to six works of art 12 inches and smaller, including framing, in any media (limited space for 3D works). All works submitted will be accepted. Show runs November 7 through December 20. The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington. Deadline: October 24. $6 per piece entered; $5 for current members. Info, spacegalleryvt@gmail. com.

BTV WINTER MARKET APPLICATIONS OPEN: Now accepting applications for the Love Burlington/BCA Winter Market, which this year will be held indoors over two weekends. Apply online at twilightblockparty.mymarket.org/ forms/signup. BCA Center, Burlington. Deadline: Wednesday, October 8. Free. Info, 802-865-7166.

Edgewater Gallery at the Falls One Mill St., Middlebury

Edgewater Gallery on the Green Six Merchants Row, Middlebury

music+nightlife

S UNDbites

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnswoth@sevendaysvt.com

Noah Kahan v. Deltron 3030 (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gondola)

My father always used to say driving through the mountain pass was a choice. I can still see the roguish smirk on his face as he navigated the sharp twists of Route 108 north in the Peugeot station wagon that I was destined to destroy four years later, days after getting my driver’s license. It was all a bit of a show for him, acting like some mountain man hauling his beater over the hills, as opposed to a transplanted ﬂatlander in his import, dodging the hordes of leaf peepers.

Maybe I was just thinking of him when I drove the same pass last week, but I felt like I, too, was making a choice — and perhaps being overdramatic about the whole thing.

You see, for months I had been planning to be at Higher Ground in South Burlington that night for the one and only DELTRON 3030, legends of hip-hop and the soundtrack to approximately 75

percent of all bong hits in the year 2000, when their self-titled debut dropped. But as with Deltron Zero, the main character of that dystopian concept album, fate had other plans for me. I decided to face the strange.

I went to the NOAH KAHAN golf tournament concert.

Let me back up for a second. Kahan, the Stra ord-born singer-songwriter and bona ﬁde international pop star, hosted a golf tournament and concert at Spruce Peak in Stowe on October 1 to beneﬁt the Busyhead Project, his charity supporting mental health. (They went with Folk & Fairways as the name, though I would have chosen Stomp Clap Hey — Fore!) Tickets were scarce and expensive, with Vermont residents getting a chance to snag show-only tickets alongside those who paid for golf stu , too.

After I parked my car and joined

show. Is there a sports pattern? And I’m not judging, by the way. I’d play soccer with IRON MAIDEN.”

“I don’t know who that is,” she replied, and I don’t think she meant it in a mean way.

“I’m just saying, if I liked golf and was famous, I’d host a tourney, too. That wouldn’t be weird,” I said.

“It’s not weird.”

“I know, I just said it’s not weird.”

“This is all for charity, though. Isn’t that fucking awesome?” she asked me, ﬂashing a grin.

And it is awesome. I’d like to think that if I went from a largely unknown Vermont kid trying to make it as a songwriter in LA to a global phenomenon rubbing shoulders and collaborating with the likes of POST MALONE, ZACH BRYAN and KACEY MUSGRAVES, I’d put time and money into something like the Busyhead Project. The nonproﬁt has raised more than $4.5 million since launching in 2023.

I streamed out with a gaggle of pu y coat-wearing Kahan fans, all headed for the stage. There was a familial feel to it all, with kids running around the lawn and couples looking like they were getting ready for après-ski. I don’t catch a lot of shows at resorts, so it was hard to ignore the fanciness of the whole shebang, but I’ll give it to Kahan: If you’re going to play a resort and golf tournament for the jet-set class, show up in a Canadian tuxedo.

the steady ﬂow of fans heading for the gondola that would whisk us up to the outdoor concert, I started to feel that special air of exclusivity. (I mean, you caught the whole “heading for the gondola” thing, right? Was I too subtle?)

People were understandably buzzing at the rare chance to see Kahan in a relatively intimate environment.

Stu ed with another passenger into a gondola car, I was soon climbing high above the parking lot toward Spruce Peak Village. Deltron Zero’s words from “Turbulence” came to mind: “In a hovercraft, not no bubble-bath, turboboost / Fuck Earth, I want to live on Mars so I’m closer to the stars.”

“I saw him at Fenway,” my gondola mate told me, as if she couldn’t tell I was contemplating DAN THE AUTOMATOR’s sci-ﬁ noir production.

“Yeah?” I replied. “That’s a baseball stadium, and now a golf tournament

Kahan walked out to rapturous applause in a full-denim troutﬁt, complete with embroidered ﬁsh on his sleeves and pant legs. I made a joke about his next record being called Fish Season, but my only audience was the kid handing out free potato chips, who just looked at me with that Gen Z thousandyard blankness that always reminds me of Children of the Corn.

“His last record was called Stick Season,” I said, trying to explain the joke, but the kid had already moved on, intent on o -loading the box of chips. Who gave him the chips? I wondered. Why was he handing them out? Was this the sort of thing that happens at golf tournament concerts?

I shrugged o the mystery as Kahan launched into a solo set. The dude has been playing massive stages with a full band for the better part of three years; the days of him and an acoustic guitar alone onstage are now few and far between. Nonetheless, he soon had the crowd in the palm of his hand as he played through hits like “Dial Drunk” and “Northern Attitude.”

Noah Kahan at Spruce Peak

On the Beat

Champlain College hosts a multimedia event this Thursday, October 9, at Alumni Auditorium titled “Sound, Light, Movement: Solo Cello + Handmade Film.” Curated by Caryn Cline, executive director of Seattle’s Interbay Cinema Society, the evening features 10 short experimental ﬁlms, all originally shot on 16mm ﬁlm as silent pieces.

of music-making Vermonters spanning 235 years,” according to a press release. Check out vermonthistory.org to learn more about the exhibit, on view until December.

Singer-songwriter EMMA COOK is gearing up for a big 2026. Her forthcoming album, Of the Morning, is set to drop in February after nearly a year of work.

Its ﬁrst single, “Thirteen Moons,” debuts Tuesday, October 14, on major streaming services; four more singles will be released between now and February. To celebrate the new single’s release, Cook plays on Wednesday, October 8, at Radio Bean in Burlington with singer-songwriter KATIE MARTUCCI and alt-pop artist BECCS.

Also releasing new music this week is Burlington folk musician DAVID KARL ROBERTS. The singer-songwriter dropped three new tracks on Wednesday, October 1: “Welcome to the Jubilee,” “The Devil and Daniel Webster,” and “Like Driving on Snow.”

The ﬁlms will receive new live soundtracks courtesy of Seattle cellist and composer LORI GOLDSTON, known to many for touring with NIRVANA in the ’90s and appearing on the band’s MTV Unplugged in New York album. Self-described as “classically trained and rigorously de-trained,” Goldston is a truly multigenre creator, working with everyone from singer-songwriter CAT POWER to rockers EARTH to Israeli conductor ILAN VOLKOV. Visit champlain. edu for more information on the free event.

Ever wonder about the Green Mountain music scene of yore? According to a new exhibit from the Vermont Historical Society, the work of the state’s early songwriters is still sung today. “Vermont’s Tunebook Tradition: Composers, Compilers & Singers of Psalmody (1790-2025),” at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier, is a collection of seven tunebooks composed, compiled and printed by Vermonters, largely between the years 1790 and 1810.

The Vermont Early Music Project and eight local historical societies and museums collaborated on this e ort to “present the printed tunebooks and handwritten part books of early Vermont musicians alongside stories

All three are available for streaming and download now at davidkarlroberts. bandcamp.com.

Roberts, ubiquitous on the local live music scene, has a veritable ton of shows coming up in October; he’ll celebrate his birthday at Foam Brewers in Burlington on Sunday, October 26. CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “UNTIL THEN” by Willverine, Darling

2. “DYING” by Tinkerbullet

3. “RIVERSIDE” by the Wormdogs

4. “THE GOOD GUYS” by Caleb Lodish, Charlie Mayne

5. “BELONG HERE” by Tom Gerswhin

6. “GONE (CAN MEAN A LOT OF THINGS)” by Greg Freeman

7. “ORANGE JUICE” by Noah Kahan

12v-sayyousawit.indd 2

Lori Goldston

Emma Cook

Winter’s Coming . . .

music+nightlife

Still digging around? Do it safely.

Before you dig, you or your contractor must contact Dig Safe® at Digsafe.com or 811 at least 72 hours prior to digging.

Before the work begins, Dig Safe will notify member utilities, who will then ensure the locations of buried facilities they own are clearly marked. Please insist that any work within 18 inches of the marked lines be done by hand.

How to Detect a Gas Leak

Smell: Natural gas is normally odorless. A distinctive, pungent odor, similar to rotten eggs, is added so that you will recognize it quickly.

Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying.

Sound: You may hear an unusual noise like a roaring, hissing, or whistling.

If you suspect a leak:

Move immediately to a safe location. Call VGS at 800-6398081 or call 911 with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might result in a dangerous condition. Do not assume someone else will report the condition.

Be safe

Scan the QR Code or visit vgsvt.com/be-safe for more safety information.

He attempted Irish singersongwriter HOZIER’s trademark howl on the latter, failing miserably and laughing as he said, “Respect to Hozier. I can’t do that shit, though!” The crowd laughed with him, charmed. When he said hi to his mom, who was sitting somewhere with friends and family in the VIP area, much of the crowd waved as well.

The set was pretty short, but I didn’t get the sense that anyone felt cheated. Quite the opposite: The crowd seemed thrilled to have gotten a little, quasi-private slice of a musician who increasingly belongs to a larger world. No one I talked to cared that much about when Kahan would release his follow-up to Stick Season, which came out in 2022.

“It’ll be great, but it can’t be another Vermont tribute,” one fan said as we all headed back for the gondola. “He’s told us all where he’s from, his roots, you know? I think he’s got to break the

I rode the gondola alone and headed back to the parking lot with Deltron 3030’s “Mastermind” in my head. “His logic impress a hypnotic effect / yeah, a latent patent, you could call it a gift / Man, he all in the mix, nuclear physicist / Genetically tailored every bit of this stimulus.”

Kahan has created and nurtured his own ecosystem of fans, his Busyheads, who will show up as a mass of screaming college kids at a football stadium or as a select crew of nicely dressed upper-crusters at a ski resort. And in either locale, he remains the same: a dude and his guitar, singing about what to do when you get sad. There’s a timelessness to that approach that explains his appeal — if one were looking to, anyway.

If I was, I found my answer. I made my choice. I went to the mountain, and then I drove back down it, trying to emulate my dad’s grin as I blasted Deltron 3030’s “State of the Nation.”

wheel a little — go electric like BOB DYLAN at Newport.”

Soundbites « P.52

COURTESY OF PATRICK MCCORMACK

Noah Kahan at Spruce Peak

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.8

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

Groove Is in the Hearth: Nathan Byrne (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

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

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

Jeff Shelley (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Katie Martucci, beccs, Emma Cook (singer-songwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

Shakedown Citi (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $9.09/$11.52.

Shawn Mullins (singersongwriter) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $39.12. Tabarnak, Peddle (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

THU.9

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

Ali T (singer-songwriter) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Autumn Grooves: Troy Millette (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Stowe, 6 p.m. Free.

Avery Cooper Trio (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

The Chambers DesLauriers Band (blues, jazz) at Retro Live, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 6:30 p.m. $20. Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Frankie & the Fuse (indie pop) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Glenn Jones + Liam Grant (live music) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-$30.

TRS LIVE: Cotter & Friends with Cotter Ellis of Goose (live music) at Tank Recording Studio, Burlington, 6 & 8 p.m. $25/$35.

VT Bluegrass Pioneers (bluegrass) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 9 p.m. Free.

Zach Nugent & Sunshine Garcia Becker (Grateful Dead tribute) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.10

Anachronist (folk, indie rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Bad Horsey (country, rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

WED.15 // THE SWORD [METAL]

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.

Unsheathed

Texas quartet the SWORD carry the flag for pummeling, big-riff heavy metal. Roaring out of Austin in 2003, the band dropped its now-classic 2006 debut Age of Winters, featuring the blistering single “Freya.” Though the band briefly hung up its scabbard in 2022, it returned two years later with a surprise cover of Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath,” flute and all. Now the Sword are back on the road, celebrating the 15th anniversary of their record Warp Riders. They’re set to take over the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington on Wednesday, October 15, with support from RICKSHAW

BILLIE’S BURGER PATROL and MOON DESTROYS.

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 2 p.m. Free.

Barbie N Bones (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Bo Stalock, Emma Ogier (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $19.84. Chris Powers (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free. Collin Cope, Mike Hartigan, Jake Whitesell (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Cotter & Friends (jam, rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Dancin’ in the Streets: Local Strangers (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

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

Dead Not Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Faerie Godbrothers (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Freeway Clyde (jazz, psych) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

Geese, Racing Mount Pleasant (indie rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Gunnar Hohne, Dad?! (singer-songwriter, new wave) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Jordan Sedwin (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Kalbells, Erica Eso (indie) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $20/$26.

Model 97 (punk) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

Nathan Byrne (singer-songwriter) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Northbeach Dub Allstars (Sublime tribute) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez, Cal Humberto, Mary Esther Carter (singer-songwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

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

Swell (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Tim McKenzie (folk) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

VT Bluegrass Pioneers (bluegrass) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.11

Cheddar (funk, soul) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

Crowe Hill Band (rock, country) at the Depot, St. Albans, 9 p.m. $5.

Danny LeFrancois (Americana) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Dave Keller Band (swing, R&B) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Dave Solazzo & the Bridge (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Dead Tooth, Skrom (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $15.

Joe Capps (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

John Daly Band (folk rock) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Light Deluxe (jazz, funk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Live Music Saturdays (live music series) at Moondog Tavern, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Moose Crossing (jazz fusion) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

ok commuter (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Queer Goth Night with Burial Woods, Snowbeasts, DJ Dagon, the Accaliae (EDM) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10.

Slavic Soul Party (brass) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $24.70/$30.81.

Surf Sabbath, the High Breaks (surf rock, Black Sabbath tribute) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

That 1 Guy, (experimental, indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $22.95.

Wide Load (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.12

Drew Angus (singer-songwriter) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $46.25.

Joe Agnello, Lara Cwass (jam, rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

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

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

White Reaper, Lip Critic, Worlds Worst (rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $26.42.

Willis, Hotel Fiction (indie rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $32.06.

TUE.14

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.

Fescue, Like a Glove (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with John Abair and His Good Pals (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free. Sprezzatura (jazz) at Original Skiff Fish + Oysters, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

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

WED.15

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

Dark Star Project (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $9.09/$11.52.

Dr. Gasp Halloween Show (folk, horror) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

Eames Brothers Band (psychedelic blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Groove Is in the Hearth: Delta Sweet Duo (country, blues) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 6 p.m. Free.

Irish Night with RambleTree (Celtic) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free.

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

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

Jude Brothers, Hamilton Belk, A Box of Stars (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

The Sword, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Moon Destroys (metal) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $32.06.

WED.8

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

THU.9

DJ JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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.

Emo Night Brooklyn, Taken Alive (DJ) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $26.42.

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Megh, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

music+nightlife

REVIEW

Phantom Suns, Radiolaria

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

The Burlington music scene leading up to the turn of the 21st century was awash in distorted guitars, pummeling drum beats and angst-ridden vocals. Likewise, the clubs were jam-packed with aggressive, loud, melodically screaming dudes hanging on the edge of metal or punk but keeping that grungy center.

These days, not so much. Oh, there are indie-rock bands aplenty, and what an awesome — and much more diverse than in the ’90s — collection of groups it is: Greg Freeman, Robber Robber, Dari Bay, the Dead Shakers, Burly Girlies, Jesse Taylor Band… The list goes on. But melodic, metal-adjacent, seriously heavy alt-rock is now practiced by a very select few in Vermont. And no one does it better than Phantom Suns.

a band that knew exactly what it was and what it wanted to sound like. Seven years later, Phantom Suns return with Radiolaria, picking up right where they left o .

Opener “Cordyceps” kicks o the record with a propulsive groove and dynamic shifts as singer and rhythm guitarist Seth Gundersen paints a picture of life as a spore-infected zombie. Is it a metaphor or literally about the megapopular video game and HBO show “The Last of Us”? Unclear, but it works either way.

leads and subtle squeals of feedback as Gundersen howls for everything he’s worth. “Spirals will swallow you!” he screams, distortion dripping as the band lowers the boom, slipping into half-time. It’s fury and emotional dynamism, all wrapped up together.

djs

CONTINUED FROM P.55

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl ursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.10

Aidan, Xavier, Eli (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

The Burlington quartet dropped its debut LP, Caldera, in 2018 — a record brimming with intention and focus from

Big Thief, D ouble Inﬁnity

(4AD, CASSETTE, CD, DIGITAL, VINYL) Big Thief have always been big. Not big in numbers, like the Polyphonic Spree, or household-name big, like Maroon 5, but big in their importance to the state of 21st-century indie rock since their formation in 2015.

Placed on a pedestal by exacting critics and ravenous audiences alike, the Berklee College of Music-bred, Brooklyn-born outﬁt has consistently been greater than the sum of its parts. Anyone who saw Big Thief’s 2017 Waking Windows performance at the Winooski United Methodist Church can attest to their formidable presence and cohesion, even at that early stage. That show was all anyone talked about after the festival, and the band consistently sells out whenever it hits Vermont.

In “Not to Be,” the band hews close to the Deftones playbook, with ri s as sharp as blades and a savage groove from the locked-in rhythm section of drummer Chris Mathieu and bassist Chris Knauer. The band excels at laying out the architecture of hard rock: The foundations are reinforced steel, giving Phantom Suns an unassailable base from which to launch their salvos.

On “Spirals,” guitarist Tristan Baribeau dips in and out of the ri age to tease searing

vocalist Adrianne Lenker work now as a trio after the somewhat controversial departure of Israeli bassist Max Oleartchik, a founding member. Oleartchik left the band in 2024 for “interpersonal reasons,” according to an o cial statement, which, amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, fueled internet speculation that his exit was largely entangled with his national and ethnic identities.

The album’s title phrase is delightfully nonsensical, like “especially everyone” or “extremely unique.” Perhaps it’s meant to signify the almost comical nature of the unknown.

It’s a credit to the songwriting, the arrangements and the production on Radiolaria that there’s not a hint of anachronism to the record. This doesn’t feel like a band referencing its love of ’90s hard rock as much as it sounds like an evolution of the form — the next step, albeit 25 years later. That timeline isn’t as strange as it sounds. After all, Deftones are currently selling out arenas across the country. Gen Z has followed its TikTok obsessions to bands like Nirvana. And let’s be honest: One of the core tenets of the music of that era was rebellion against authority. I wonder if there’s a reason that might be trending again? Let me think…

Topical concerns aside, the album is a triumphant sophomore e ort from a unique hard-rock band in the Green Mountains. Radiolaria is available now on Spotify and at phantomsuns.bandcamp.com.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

are now falling on my shoulder,” Lenker sings, surrendering to time. The following track, “Words,” is similarly busy in composition and production and plays on a parallel concept. It eddies around a kind of verbal submission. Lenker acknowledges that words “don’t make sense” and “won’t make it right,” sounding liberated rather than frustrated.

“All Night All Day” is perhaps the album’s most broadly appealing song. Layered with lively hand drums and tambourine, ethereal synths, splashy piano, and thick blankets of vocal harmonies, the song reaches an ecstatic beauty that transcends the anguish that often courses through the band’s work.

DJ Ronstoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

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

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

Friday Dance Party with NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

SAT.11

DJ Fernetic (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Haus of Sparkle with DJ Cheetatah & DJ Vetica (DJ) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $12.19.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. $10. Roost.World (DJ set) (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

TUE.14

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

open mics & jams

WED.8

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.9

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Artie (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

After a string of acclaimed albums, Double Inﬁnity is a showcase for the new Big Thief. Guitarist Buck Meek, drummer James Krivchenia and Vermont-based guitarist/

Intentional or not, the new album sounds like a reboot, and that’s absolutely a good thing. Earthy folk-rock still burns at the band’s core, but there’s a sense of musical freedom that emerges almost instantly on opener “Incomprehensible.” Immersed in a thriving jungle of psychedelic guitars, synths and percussion that mingle and overlap, the track has a rollicking energy that feels lighter and fresher than much of the group’s canon.

“The message spirals / ‘Don’t get saggy, don’t get gray’ / But the soft and lovely silvers

“No Fear” and “Grandmother” drift into a dreamier, droning framework that propels later cuts, such as “Happy with You,” into unapologetically ascendent bliss.

As Lenker sings on the title track, the album’s underlying concept is a fork in the road. The “two inﬁnities” lead to “what’s been lost” and “what lies waiting.” Rather than languishing between them, Big Thief forge ahead as if they are one and the same, two paths that meet in an never-ending loop.

Double Inﬁnity is available at bigthief. bandcamp.com and on major streaming services.

JORDAN

ADAMS

SUN.12

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

MON.13

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

TUE.14

Open Mic (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.15

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.8

Chicken Sketch-Atore: Halloween (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

THU.9

Are You Garbage? (comedy) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6 p.m. $37.24.

The Kingdom Kids (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $6.99.

Leah Bonnema (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $23.49.

FRI.10

Comedy and Karaoke Night (comedy, karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

David Nihill (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $30.

Margaret Cho (comedy) at Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $32-$53.

Self Esteem for Dummies (comedy) at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7 p.m. $20.

Wit & Wine Comedy Night (comedy) at Shelburne Vineyard, 7 p.m. $10.

SAT.11

David Nihill (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $30.

Self Esteem for Dummies (comedy) at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 2 & 7 p.m. $20.

SUN.12

Self Esteem for Dummies (comedy) at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 2 p.m. $20.

TUE.14

Open Mic Comedy with Levi Silverstein (comedy open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.15

$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.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

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.

THU.9

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.

Green Jokes

Irish standup DAVID NIHILL is something of a comedy troubadour. He’s traveled the globe, calling no fewer than 12 countries home for a time as he racked up achievements such as winning the San Francisco Comedy Competition. He released his debut special, “Documented,” in 2019, following it up with “Cultural Appreciation” four years later. Nihill is also a best-selling author and speech coach, writing books such as Do You Talk Funny?, where he documents using standup comedy to overcome his intense fear of public speaking. He performs at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.10

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

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with DJ Lady Livy (karaoke) at the Depot, St. Albans, 9 p.m. Free.

Untapped: A Night of Drag & Burly-Q (drag) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $15.

SAT.11

Level 1 Freeski Film Tour (ski film) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $22.95.

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

SUN.12

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

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

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

MON.13

Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

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

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

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

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

TUE.14

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night: ‘Friends’ (trivia) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.15

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. ➆

FRI.10 & SAT.11 // DAVID NIHILL [COMEDY]

calendar

OCTOBER 8-15, 2025

WED.8

activism

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.

‘SUPPORTING THOSE WHO SEEK REFUGE AND A NEW HOME’: The Northeast Kingdom Asylum Seekers Assistance Network explores how communities can be strengthened by supporting those fleeing violence or persecution. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.

business

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS

BIZ BUZZ BURLINGTON: A monthly networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect over coffee and snacks. Deep City, Burlington, 9:45-11:15 a.m. $10; preregister. Info, info@vtwomenpreneurs.com.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library,

Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

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: 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.

‘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.

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Listings and spotlights are written by Rebecca Driscoll Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

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

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.

lgbtq

film

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

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.

‘PUPPY LOVE’: This 2023 grassroots documentary tells the story of a litter of Labradors who suddenly become paralyzed and four women’s efforts to save them. Partial proceeds benefit For the Love of Dogs Vermont. A raffle follows. Playhouse Movie Theatre, Randolph, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10. Info, 728-4012.

VERMONT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW:

Cinephiles learn about this year’s special guests and their flicks at a sneak peek showcase of the international, independent and local filmmaking jubilee. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-2600.

food & drink

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.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

language

ELL CLASSES: Fletcher Free Library invites

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

‘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.

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: 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.

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.

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, noon-4 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.

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, 450292-3456, ext. 227.

seminars

FAMILY-TO-FAMILY: NAMI

Vermont hosts an informative weekly seminar for individuals with a loved one who is struggling with mental health. 6-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 876-7949, ext. 100.

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.

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.

theater

‘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, 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. $10-100. Info, 296-7000.

words

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. $71-91. Info, 603-448-0400.

POETRY POTLUCK: Folks who are well versed in meter and rhyme gather to swap dishes and words in a welcoming environment. Wandering Vine, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@ catamountarts.org.

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.

THU.9

bazaars

FALL RUMMAGE SALE: Thrifty folks find fun and funky treasures to take home, including household items, toys and games. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Ministries. Grace Congregational Church, Rutland, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 775-4301.

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.

VERMONT BIZ2BIZ EXPO: A unique opportunity for professionals to meet, listen, learn and celebrate offers the TD Bank Vermont Business Growth Awards breakfast, a lunch chat presented by Sen. Peter Welch, exhibitors and insightful seminars. DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Various prices; preregister. Info, 863-8038.

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.

MONTPELIER DOWNTOWN RAMBLE: Locals take to the streets for a weekly community-building stroll of the Capital City’s pedestrian promenades. Downtown Montpelier, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

PECHAKUCHA NIGHT: Participants in the Japanese storytelling phenomenon tell a tale through 20 images, with only 20 seconds to explain each one. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $7-10. Info, 333-0312.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: All ages and abilities knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.

dance

CURRENTLY SPEAKING SERIES: POLLY MOTLEY: A professional dancer and choreographer leads attendees in a body-mind session titled “How to Move as Easily as Possible.” The Current, Stowe, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 253-8358.

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.

GUIDED WALKING TOURS: Experts lead curious minds on a journey exploring the Capital City’s most fascinating features, from public art installations to illuminated bridges. Downtown Montpelier, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: Audience members are guided through an exploration of stunning animal worlds, from frozen snowy forests to the darkest depths of the ocean. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m.,

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.8

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.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Infants and their caregivers enjoy a slow, soothing story featuring songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

GAME ON!: Kids take turns collaborating with or competing against friends using Nintendo Switch on the big screen. Caregivers must be present to supervise children below fifth grade. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 build with blocks and read together. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: Mini engineers ages 6 and up bring a box — or use one from the library’s stash — to build a castle and drawbridge. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. 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.

HISTORY FOR HOMESCHOOLERS: Homeschooled children ages 7 to 12 link up for educational activities that focus on a new theme each month. Vermont

OCT. 10-12 | FAMILY FUN

Puppet Masters

Sandglass Theater beckons all ages to its biennial “Puppets in Paradise” weekend at Brattleboro’s historic Retreat Farm. Top-caliber performers from around the world honor the art form amid a bucolic backdrop of changing leaves and breathtaking vistas. The roster features a mix of first-time and returning artists, including contemporary master Heather Henson (yes, of that Henson family); Stoph Scheer, who has worked with the Muppets and street artist Banksy; and New Zealand-born puppeteer and educator Tom Tuke. Magical multisensory moments await, including an outdoor evening performance of shadow puppetry employing deerskin and coconut-oil lamps in an ancient Indian tradition.

‘PUPPETS IN PARADISE’

Friday, October 10, 6-8 p.m.; and Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Retreat Farm in Brattleboro. $10-25 sliding scale; free for kids 2 and under. Info, 387-4051, sandglasstheater.org.

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 upclose 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.

THU.9 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.8.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

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.

chittenden county

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA

BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides wee ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TODDLER TIME: Wiggly wee ones ages 1 and up love this lively, interactive storybook experience featuring songs, rhymes and finger plays. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15-9:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

chittenden county

HALLOWEEN COSTUME SWAP: Families make the holiday green by sharing gently used items for the month’s festivities. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages 12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

stowe/smuggs

WATERSHED SPECIES ILLUSTRATION

WORKSHOP & HIKE: Artists of all ages and abilities learn tips and tricks for creating naturalist drawings of local flora and fauna. An optional trek of the center’s 660foot accessible boardwalk follows. Barnes Camp Visitor Center, Stowe, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7037.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

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.

stowe/smuggs

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

mad river valley/ waterbury

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

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

FRI.10 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.8.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

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.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘PUPPETS IN PARADISE’: Sandglass Theater presents a jubilant outdoor celebration of theater arts, featuring top-caliber artists specializing in shortform puppetry. See calendar spotlight. Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, 6-8 p.m. $10-25 sliding scale; free for kids 2 and under. Info, 387-4051.

SAT.11

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.8.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

FLYNNZONE KIDS HOUR: MATT HAGEN: A prolific Burlington songwriter strums guitar and sings songs combining the poetic wit of Shel Silverstein with the tone of Johnny Cash. The Flynn, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

chittenden county

FIRE SAFETY STORY TIME: Fire prevention coordinator Michelle Collins entertains little patrons with special tales, followed by a show-and-tell of her gear.

Stoph Scheer

COURTESY OF NORMAN BLAKE

1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘PUPPY LOVE’: This 2023 grassroots documentary tells the story of a litter of Labradors who suddenly become paralyzed and four women’s efforts to save them. A Q&A with the filmmaker follows. Bellows Falls Opera House, 7 p.m. $15. Info, 463-3964, ext. 1120.

‘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, 12:304:30 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, 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.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY

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

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.

music

ALAN CHIANG: An accomplished pianist from South Burlington plays rousing works by John Bull, William Byrd and Johannes Brahms. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, noon-1:30 a.m. Free. Info, 861-0244.

LORI GOLDSTON: An acclaimed cellist regales listeners with a unique program pairing 10 experimental short films with a live, improvised score. Alumni Auditorium, Champlain College, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, gallery@ champlain.edu.

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.8.

québec

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See WED.8.

seminars

FAMILY-TO-FAMILY: See WED.8, 6:30-9 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE: Volunteers learn how to provide free tax filing help to those who need it most. AARP Vermont State Office, Burlington, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, vt@aarp.org.

talks

CURRENTLY SPEAKING SERIES: SUSAN EVANS MCCLURE & CHRISTOPHER WILSON: In “The Arts as the Tools of Democracy” the executive director of the Vermont Arts Council and the curator and chair of the division of home and community life at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History explore how public support for the arts remains essential to the health of civil society. The Current, Stowe, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 253-8358.

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.

theater

‘AMATEURS’: The St. Johnsbury Players present Tom Griffin’s fascinating and comedic examination of local theater, ego and human desire. St. Johnsbury School, 7:30 p.m. $8-10. Info, 748-2600.

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.8, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘EUREKA DAY’: Shaker Bridge Theatre raises the curtain on Jonathan Spector’s Tony Awardwinning play about how to build consensus in a community where no one can agree on the truth. Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 7 p.m. $25-45. Info, 281-6848.

OCT. 11 & 12 | MUSIC

Such Great Heights

Green Mountain orchestra Champlain Philharmonic joins forces with Brattleboro’s Arc Benders Circus Opera to lift music to new heights — literally. This soaring program at Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater and Rutland’s Grace Congregational Church combines musical and aerial feats to present Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute as you’ve never seen it before: with soprano and acrobat Elizabeth Wohl singing while suspended in midair. Works by Igor Stravinsky and Vermont composer Jerome Shedd keep the night at dizzying heights, leaving audience members starry-eyed.

CHAMPLAIN PHILHARMONIC WITH ARC BENDERS CIRCUS OPERA

Saturday, October 11, 7:30 p.m., at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury; and Sunday, October 12, 4 p.m., at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland. $5-15. Info, info@champlainphilharmonic.org, champlainphilharmonic.org.

‘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. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30 p.m. $15-48. Info, 229-0492.

TENS FESTIVAL: The Parish Players stage 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’: Artistree Grange Theatre entertains with 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

MATT HONGOLTZ-HETLING: A Vermont author reads from his new book, The Ghost Lab, exploring the astonishing ecosystem of paranormal profiteers and consumers, in conversation with journalist Rob Gurwitt. The Norwich Bookstore, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

MORNING BOOK GROUP: Readers swap thoughts on Agatha Christie’s 1934 detective fiction, Murder on the Orient Express. South Burlington Public Library & City

Library & City Hall, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

crafts

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

dance

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.

education

OPEN HOUSE: The Burlington school opens its doors for curious families to take a peek at its rich, individualized programs, dorms and nurturing approach to academics. Rock Point School, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-1104.

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.

film

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

‘AND WATER BRINGS TOMORROW’: Ashley Hunt’s documentary on today’s anti-prison movement is told against the backdrop of climate forces. A discussion with the filmmaker and local organizers follows. Proceeds benefit the Canteen Fund. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 6-8:30 p.m. $12-25 suggested donation. Info, vermont@thecouncil.us.

Hall, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

NO PRESSURE BOOK

GROUP: Bibliophiles share whatever recs they like at this low-key Zoom hangout hosted by Waterbury Public Library. 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

FRI.10

bazaars

FALL RUMMAGE SALE: See THU.9, 9 a.m.-noon.

business

LABOR ON LOCATION: Vermont Department of Labor staff provide support for walk-in job seekers, including résumé review, interview help and links to training opportunities. South Burlington Public

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.9. MEDIA IN THE MOVIES: ‘BLACK BOX DIARIES’: Shiori Ito’s Oscarnominated 2024 documentary chronicles her own sexual assault and the societal fallout that resulted from her public accusation. The journalism film series celebrates Seven Days 30th anniversary. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-8:40 p.m. $612. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.9. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.9.

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.9, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Elizabeth Wohl

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, 10:30-11:30 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.

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.

CELEBRATING MEAT LOAF: He would do anything for love! World-class alumni from his band perform an authentic reimagining of the legendary singer’s canon. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:309:30 p.m. $39-59. Info, 775-0903.

THE CLEMENTS BROTHERS & THE EARLY RISERS: Listeners boogie down at a dynamic double bill of contemporary folk, roots and Americana tunes. Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-25; cash bar. Info, 387-0102.

COHEN & ORSHAW AND MATT

FLINNER: Contemporary bluegrass tunes light up the night at this high-octane double bill. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $15-25. Info, 382-9222.

DYLAN PATRICK WARD, NATE

GOYETTE AND ALEX Y LIE:

In “3 Spectacular Solo Acts,” singer-songwriters perform against a backdrop of handdrawn animation. Kaleidoscope Art Supply, Rutland, 7-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, the.y.lie.vt@gmail.com.

LANES SERIES: SAM REIDER & THE HUMAN HANDS: A composer, pianist and accordionist presents his latest composition, The Golem and Other Tales, based on the medieval Jewish legend of a clay man brought to life. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5-35. Info, 656-4455.

SUMMER MUSIC AT GRACE

SERIES: FREVO: A well-known contemporary quartet performs eclectic music with flute, clarinet, cello and classical guitar. Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, beth.daybell@gmail.com.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.8.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.9.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.8.

québec

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See WED.8.

talks

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT FOR EVERYONE FALL LECTURE SERIES: NICOLAS LONGO: The director of aviation gives a soaring talk titled “Vermont’s Aviation Innovation: A Patrick Leahy Burlington Airport Story.” Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2-3 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members. Info, 395-1818.

STARDUST SPEAKER SERIES: RAY PARKER: A scientist dissects some of the strange predictions of quantum mechanics and how they have shaped society. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 496-6682.

tech

INTRO TO AI: PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE: Attendees learn about the real-life applications of popular tools such as ChatGPT and Claude for writing, research, creative projects and general productivity. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2:30 p.m. Free. 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 Awardwinning stage adaptation. Hyde Park Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 888-4507.

‘AMATEURS’: See THU.9.

‘BLITHE SPIRIT’: A medium tries to cure an author’s writer’s block and accidentally summons the ghost of his first wife in this spirited comedy performed by the Valley Players. The Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. $14-18. Info, 583-1674.

‘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.

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.8, 7:30 p.m.

‘EUREKA DAY’: See THU.9.

‘THE GARBOLOGISTS’: See THU.9.

‘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 true-crime characters. QuarryWorks Theater, Adamant, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, 229-6978.

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’: See THU.9.

TENS FESTIVAL: See THU.9.

‘THE TWELFTH NIGHT SHOW’: See THU.9, 7:30 p.m.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See THU.9.

words

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

SAT.11

bazaars

COLCHESTER FALL MARKET:

Vendors, crafts and food take center stage at an annual autumnal offering. Colchester Parks & Recreation Department, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5509.

MAKER’S MARKET: Shoppers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers, distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 528-7951.

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

‘QUILTING IN THE LAND OF MILK & HONEY’: More than 200 quilts and vendors, basket raffles, presentations, and handmade gifts get area crafters pumped. Middlebury Recreation Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $7; free for kids under 12. Info, milkandhoneyquilt@ yahoo.com.

dance

CORNWALL CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities get their bodies moving to live tunes by Red Dog Riley, with calling by Don Stratton. Cornwall Town Hall, 7-9:30 p.m. $5-10 sliding scale. Info, 462-3722. etc.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: The state’s first natural burial cemetery invites curious minds to tour the grounds and learn more about its services. Vermont Forest Cemetery, Roxbury, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 234-1454.

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.

A PARTY FOR THE PEOPLE: A night of live music by local acts the likes of Auntie Em and the Twisters builds community. Proceeds benefit the Democratic

timeless tale of love and magic will be brought to life by the ��nest dancers of the Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Theater.

FALL LEAVES AREN’T THE ONLY THING TO SEE THIS SEASON

TEDDY

Party of Brandon. Brandon Town Hall, 6 p.m. $25. Info, 874-2162.

fairs & festivals

ART IN THE PARK FALL FOLIAGE

FESTIVAL: The 64th annual outdoor extravaganza showcases juried fine artists, craftspeople and specialty food producers, as well as vendors, music and activities for kids. Main Street Park, Rutland, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 775-0356.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS

MARKET HARVEST FEST: Fun and funky local products, live music, games, pumpkin painting and a needle-felting workshop set the tone for a fabulous fall day. Allenholm Farm, South Hero, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, champlain islandsfarmersmkt@gmail.com.

FALL FOR ST. JOHNSBURY: The region’s best autumnal offerings are on display at this annual event, including foliage train rides, artisan and farmers markets, live music, and a Halloween dance party. Downtown St. Johnsbury. $10-45 for train tickets. Info, 748-8575.

HARVEST FAIRE: Pumpkin painting, tractor rides, live music and a stein-hoisting competition make for an autumnal affair to remember. Killington Resort, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 800-734-9435.

MISS SHANNON’S FALL MARKET: Tasty treats, drinks, games, vendors and music punctuate this inaugural fundraising event to help restore the historic East Corinth landmark. Miss Shannon’s School House, East Corinth, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 622-4560.

OKTOBERFEST: Dust off your dirndls and lederhosen for a full day of mountain merriment, including live music, stein-holding contests, Bavarian eats, local brews and Alpine antics. Sugarbush Resort, Warren, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, communications@email. sugarbush.com.

RAIL CITY FAN FEST: An annual meeting of pop culture artists, makers and vendors features cosplay contests, video and tabletop games, and other activities for geeks of all ages. Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center, St. Albans, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $12-20; free for kids under 12. Info, railcityfanfest@gmail.com.

VERMONT FOOD + MUSIC

FESTIVAL: Grammy-nominated country musician Brent Cobb, Zach Nugent’s Dead Set and other acclaimed artists set the tone for an unforgettable culinary experience among the leaves. Ascutney Outdoors Center, Brownsville, 11 a.m. $45; free for kids 12 and under. Info, peter@vtfoodandmusicfest.com.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.9.

CLIMBING FILM TOUR: An evening of screenings centered on climbing culture delights local mountaineers. Partial proceeds support youth programs at Petra Cliffs. Film House, Main Street Landing

Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $20-25. Info, 523-2330.

‘JEREMIAH JOHNSON’: Robert Redford stars as the title character in this 1972 Western about a mountain man who wishes to live the life of a hermit. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 8 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660–2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.9.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.9.

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, champlainislands farmersmkt@gmail.com.

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.

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT: Teams of players take turns pitching beanbags in hopes of snagging a trophy or a cash prize. A 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, dinner and live music complete the day. Proceeds benefit Silver Towers Camp. Burlington Elks Lodge, 10 a.m. $25-50. Info, 862-1342.

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.

holidays

RETURN OF THE ZOMBIE WALK: Hordes of reanimated corpses take over Queen City streets, bringing blood, guts and gore to the masses. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free. Info, sickink@gmail.com.

SUKKOT ON THE FARM: Hands-on workshops, puppet shows, Jewish traditions and a performance by Avi Salloway deliver a memorable family fall fest. Living Tree Alliance, Moretown, 3:30-10 p.m. $25-100. Info, 503-9774.

OCT. 13 & 14 | MUSIC

Lone Star

Prolific singer-songwriter, record producer and New York Times best-selling author Jeff Tweedy — also known as the front man of Chicago rock band Wilco — flies solo to bring his Twilight Override tour to Higher Ground in South Burlington and Lebanon Opera House in New Hampshire. Music magazine Pitchfork affirms that the singer’s newly released three-disc album of the same name “is pure Tweedy: ambivalent and unknowable and funny and compelling” and “the thing he was always ramping up to.” Local listeners experience the artist’s sprawling oeuvre, including songs from both his solo career and his time with Wilco, in an intimate setting.

JEFF TWEEDY

Monday, October 13, 7:30 p.m., at Higher Ground in South Burlington. Sold out. Info, 652-0777, highergroundmusic.com. Tuesday, October 14, 7:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in New Hampshire. $68-88. Info, 603-448-0400, lebanonoperahouse.org.

language

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

lgbtq

MIDDLEBURY PRIDE: From drag performances and lawn games to a rainbow-filled parade, Addison County celebrates Pride in style. Various Middlebury locations, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, info@middpride.org.

SPEAK OUT FOR NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY: A community forum invites LGBTQ+ folks and allies to share their stories and build visibility, affirmation and solidarity. Springfield Town Library, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 885-4017.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.10.

CATAMOUNT COFFEEHOUSE

CONCERT SERIES: Beloved local musician Bob Amos hosts singer-songwriters from the Northeast Kingdom and beyond for an evening of acoustic folk tunes in an intimate setting. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. $10-15 suggested donation. Info, 748-2600.

CHAMPLAIN PHILHARMONIC WITH ARC BENDERS CIRCUS

OPERA: Wonder takes flight when soprano and circus performer Elizabeth Wohl joins forces with the Vermont ensemble to present Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute in an innovative collaboration of music and acrobatics. See calendar spotlight. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $5-15. Info, info@champlainphilharmonic.org.

CHIEF ADJUAH: The Grammynominated musician, composer and cultural leader weaves together spiritual storytelling and original instrumentation to present a genre-defying journey from New Orleans to West Africa.

Society of Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Ticket exchange available. Info, 652-0777.

HIGHER GROUND PRESENTS:

VIOLENT FEMMES: SOLD OUT. Formed in 1981, this American folkpunk band continues its mission to rock harder than any acoustic act on the planet. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 8 p.m. $57.25-131.50. Info, 863-5966.

REED FOEHL: Listeners leave this Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter’s intimate performance with earworms aplenty. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 7-9 p.m. $30. Info, booking@reedfoehlmusic.com.

SPRUCE PEAK UNPLUGGED:

TEDDY THOMPSON: The son of music legends Richard and Linda Thompson brings his acclaimed blend of folk, rock and country to the stage. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $31.50-45. Info, 760-4634.

THE PANDORA CONSORT:

“Hildegard Reanimated: Vision in Vision” hypnotizes with the otherworldly sounds of evocative choral arrangements by 12th century mystic and composer Hildegard von Bingen. A Q&A and reception follow. Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, jvasquez@vermontpublic.org.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.8.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.9. GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.8.

SHELBURNE BAY LOOP HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for an relaxed trek along the shore. Call for start time. Shelburne Bay. Free; preregister. Info, 413-884-5932.

québec

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See WED.8.

Virtual option available. Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, 7:30 p.m. $25-60 sliding scale. Info, 2549088, ext. 1.

DANA ROBINSON: A Cabot songwriter, guitarist and old-time fiddler combines warm, openhearted singing with wry humor and astute observations about community and place. York Street Meeting House, Lyndon, 7 p.m. $15-20; free for students under 18. Info, 748-2600.

GLORIOUS LEADER: A musical project conceived by Vermont songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kyle Woolard features songs that flow naturally from acoustic narratives to vibrant pop melodies. Gihon Valley Hall, Hyde Park, 7 p.m. $10-15. Info, gihonvalleyhall@ gmail.com.

HIGHER GROUND PRESENTS: THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH: SOLD OUT. A Swedish singersongwriter often compared to Bob Dylan mesmerizes listeners with his raw singing and deft guitar playing. First Unitarian Universalist

‘WHITE LION, BROWN TIGER’: Audience members take in the world premiere of Vishesh Abeyratne’s charged exploration of workplace racism, toxic masculinity, performative allyship and weaponized trauma. Teesri Duniya Theatre, Montreal, 7 p.m. $24-28. Info, 514-848-0238.

seminars

EDITING WITH DAVINCI RESOLVE: Media buffs learn how to configure their workspace, import and organize files, and fine-tune to create a finished product. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

sports

SMUGGLERS NOTCH SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB ANNUAL

SALE: Winter sports enthusiasts score amazing deals on quality gear for the whole family. Tarrant Student Recreational Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 760-8382.

Jeff Tweedy

talks

JOANNE POLANSHEK: In “A Brief

Look at the Life and Times of Jeffrey Brace: Revolutionary War Soldier and Slave,” a genealogist reveals fascinating facts about the African American historical figure and his connection to Sheldon. Refreshments provided. Sheldon Historical Society Museum, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 802 370-4148.

tech

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

theater

‘THE 39 STEPS’: See FRI.10.

‘AMATEURS’: See THU.9.

‘BLITHE SPIRIT’: See FRI.10.

‘CLUE’: See FRI.10, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m.

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.8, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘EUREKA DAY’: See THU.9, 7 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

‘THE GARBOLOGISTS’: See THU.9, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘LIZZIE BORDEN: A CHILLING

TALE OF FAMILY, SECRETS AND SUSPICION’: See FRI.10, 2-4 & 7:309:30 p.m.

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’: See THU.9. TENS FESTIVAL: See THU.9. ‘THE TWELFTH NIGHT SHOW’: See THU.9, 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See THU.9, 7-9 p.m. and 3 p.m.

words

ELI CLARE: A Vermont author and activist launches his new release, Unfurl: Survivals, Sorrows and Dreaming, which deftly blends poetry and creative nonfiction. Bethel Arts Center, 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 392-3145.

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.10. THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

WRITE NOW!: 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.12 crafts

‘QUILTING IN THE LAND OF MILK & HONEY’: See SAT.11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.8, 1-3 p.m. fairs & festivals

ART IN THE PARK FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL: See SAT.11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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 for full schedule. Various locations statewide. Various prices. Info, jpelletier@vermonthumanities.org.

FALL FOR ST. JOHNSBURY: See SAT.11.

FALL INTO WINTER FEST: Folks have fun among the foliage, from hayrides and hiking to live music and an apple cider bar. Jackson Gore Inn, Okemo Mountain Resort, Ludlow, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 228-1400.

MIDDLEBURY CAR SHOW & FALL FESTIVAL: Here’s something to honk about: 75 classic cars and trucks gleaming on Main Street. Auto enthusiasts also enjoy food trucks, vendors, live music and kids’ activities. Triangle Park, Middlebury, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7951.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL: Horse-drawn wagon rides transport fall merrymakers at a day of live music, local eats, gourd picking and themed

activities. Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, East Thetford, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $5-10 suggested donation. Info, 785-4737.

RAIL CITY FAN FEST: See SAT.11. film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.9.

GRANFILM FESTIVAL: A celebration of Vermont filmmakers fills up cinephiles’ cups with short flicks that range in subject matter, from a quixotic search for the biblical lost Ark of the Covenant to a startling exploration of the consciousness of manta rays. Granville Corner School, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, vtcornerschool@gmail.com.

‘LA LIGA’: This 25-minute documentary follows immigrant dairy farmworkers who find joy, solidarity and a sense of home on the soccer field. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 540-3018.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.9.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.9.

food & drink

LEAF PEEP & APERITIF ADVENTURE DINNER: Peak foliage

meets peak food at a four-course roving culinary experience highlighting local farms and covering two miles of forest and pasture. Merck Forest and Farmland Center, Rupert, noon-3 p.m. $165. Info, sas@adventuredinner.com.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Hungry locals pile their plates with flapjacks, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and Vermont maple syrup. Proceeds benefit the senior center. Arrowhead Senior Citizen Center, Milton, 8-11 a.m. $12. Info, 893-7964.

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.9, 1-4:30 p.m.

health & fitness

BREATH WORKSHOP: A science-backed session explores how conscious breathing can regulate the nervous system and support mental clarity and physical well-being. Champlain Valley Community Fitness, Williston, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 776-1889.

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. holidays

SUKKOT ON THE FARM: See SAT.11, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

lgbtq

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

CHAMPLAIN PHILHARMONIC WITH ARC BENDERS CIRCUS OPERA: See SAT.11. Grace Congregational Church, Rutland, 4 p.m.

CHAMPLAIN TRIO: Vermont musicians Letitia Quante, Emily Taubl and Hiromi Fukuda captivate listeners with a performance of classic chamber music. Vermont State University-Lyndon, 2 & 3:15 p.m. $10. Info, 748-2600.

SUN.12 » P.64

DAVID FEURZEIG: In “Play Every Town,” the prolific classical pianist continues a statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Barnet School, 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, rbc150cbd@gmail.com.

‘AMATEURS’: See THU.9, 3 p.m.

‘BLITHE SPIRIT’: See FRI.10, 2 p.m.

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.8, 5 p.m.

‘EUREKA DAY’: See THU.9, 2:30 p.m.

‘THE GARBOLOGISTS’: See THU.9, 2 p.m.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. words

Saturday, October 18 at 10:30a.m.

Saturday, October 18 at 10:30a.m. LOCATION

South Burlington Library, Auditorium

S. Burlington Library, Auditorium

802-864-4709

For more info: christianscienceburlington.org First Church of Christ, Scientist, Burlington

802-864-4709 For More Info: Christianscienceburlington.org

LIEDER BY THE LAKE: Singers Len Torrie, Ryan Matos and Cole Marino join forces with pianist Eric Milnes to present an inspired afternoon of works by Franz Schubert in “Burlington Schubertiade.” College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 p.m. $15-30. Info, 864-7704.

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD CONCERT SERIES: HOT PICKIN’ PARTY: The local bluegrass band showcases heartfelt harmonies, dynamic musical interplay and a spirit of exploration on stage. Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2753.

RIBBON SING FOR CONNECTION: Community singing finds roots at an online gathering in which attendees vocalize songs connected by an idea, while also connecting with singers from around the world through a live loop. 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, patricia@juneberrymusic. com.

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY: This fiery nine-piece pumps the sounds of New York life through a Balkan brass filter, generating tunes with an irresistible beat. Strand Center Theatre, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 3-5 p.m. $20-40. Info, tom@tommcnichols.com.

WESTFORD MUSIC SERIES: EARTHBOUND SPIRITS: Fans of blues and rock enjoy a lively show, courtesy of this outstanding trio. Westford Common Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 734-8177.

outdoors

THE BIG SIT: Birders join in the community science project by identifying as many feathered friends as possible between sunrise and sunset. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 434-2167.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.8. québec

CELTIC HARMONIES

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See WED.8, Through.

‘WHITE LION, BROWN TIGER’: See SAT.11, 2 p.m.

sports

SMUGGLERS NOTCH SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB ANNUAL SALE: See SAT.11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

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.10, 2 p.m.

‘LIZZIE BORDEN: A CHILLING TALE OF FAMILY, SECRETS AND SUSPICION’: See FRI.10, 2-4 p.m.

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’: See THU.9, 2 p.m.

TENS FESTIVAL: See THU.9, 2-4 p.m.

‘THE TWELFTH NIGHT SHOW’: See THU.9.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See THU.9, 3 p.m.

MON.13 crafts

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

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.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.9.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.9.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.9.

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.

health & fitness

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

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

QTPOC SUPPORT GROUP:

Pride Center of Vermont facilitates a safe space for trans and queer folks of color to connect, share experiences, process current events and brainstorm ideas. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-0003.

READ LIKE A WRITER: New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for lit lovers to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-1132.

TUE.14

business

CEDRR OCTOBER MIXER: Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region members and friends eat, drink and win prizes at a catered shindig benefiting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Allen Pools & Spas, Williston, 5-7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 773- 2747.

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.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN MEMORY

CAFÉ: Those living with dementia and their caregivers gather to make friends and have fun. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 863-3403. THE MOTH STORYSLAM: Local tellers of tales recount true stories in an open-mic format. Burlington Beer, 7 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, susanne@themoth.org.

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.

COZY CRAFTING CLUB: Hobbyists gather to hone their skills and make new friends. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6:45 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

CRAFTERS DROP-IN: Community members converse and connect through knitting, crocheting, mending, embroidery and other creative pursuits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

fairs & festivals

FALL FESTIVAL: ‘RESILIENT PATTERNS’: See SUN.12, 6:30 p.m. film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.9.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.9.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.9.

‘TREMORS’: Citizens of a small, isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures in this beloved horror B movie from 1990. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.

games

CHESS TIME: Neighbors partake in the ancient game of strategy. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.9.

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 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.

TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the ancient martial art combining slow, gentle movements, controlled breathing and meditation. Ida Boch

Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 304-0836.

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

INTERPLAY JAZZ JAM NORTH: Instrumentalists tune in for a night of melodies, bringing six to eight copies of sheet music to pass around. Faith United Methodist

Church, South Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 578-8830.

JEFF TWEEDY: The Wilco front man and New York Times best-selling author flies solo for his Twilight Override tour, offering fans a rare chance to experience songs from his expansive catalog. See calendar spotlight. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $68-88. Info, 603-448-0400.

outdoors

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, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7037.

québec

‘WHITE LION, BROWN TIGER’: See SAT.11.

seminars

ESSENTIALS OF CAMERA

OPERATION: An informative evening examines the critical elements of photography and videography, covering topics from exposure to depth of field. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

FINDING HOUSING

WORKSHOP: Attendees build an apartment-search tool kit with guidance from the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456.

tech

AFTERNOON TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

AI & SOCIETY: SOCIAL, POLITICAL & ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS: How is artificial intelligence reshaping jobs, democracy and daily life? Curious minds join a balanced and engaging discussion of the technology’s ripple effects in Vermont communities. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff answer questions about devices of all kinds in face-to-face

sessions. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. theater

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.8, 7:30 p.m.

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.

RENA MOSTEIRIN: A local author reads from her new poetry collection, Disaster Tourism, offering glimpses into cataclysmic events on a personal and global scale. Still North Books & Bar, Hanover, N.H., 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 603-676-7846.

ROBERT FULLER: The Vermont culinary legend celebrates his new

book, A Horse-Drawn Sickle Bar Cutter, a stirring memoir colored by history, nostalgia and life lessons. Live bluegrass music by Julie and Donny Gould completes the evening. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 872-7111.

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.15

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.8. etc.

CHAMP MASTERS TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

FRENCH STORY TIME: Kids of all ages listen and learn to native speaker Romain Feuillette raconte une histoire. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME SWAP: See FRI.10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

KINGSTON’S AUTISM SWAGGER SQUAD: Neurodiverse children and their caregivers have fun, build community and support one another in a group setting. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 11 a.m.12:15 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

OPEN HOUSE: The station hosts community members for a day of family fun, including live demos, free food, fire safety lessons and tours of the building. Essex Fire Department, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-5308.

barre/montpelier

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

mad river valley/ waterbury

INKLINGS CHILDREN’S BOOKS

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: The beloved bookstore throws a birthday bash filled with cupcakes, story time and crafts. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 496-7280.

middlebury

area

FALL FAMILY DAY: The natural world serves as inspiration for a day of family-friendly activities, including discovery hunts, art making, trail hikes, games and ample picnic opportunities. Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular admission, $10-12; free for members and kids. Info, 877-3406.

available. Dealer.com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, cdmvt47@yahoo.com.

SBPL AT THE SENIOR CENTER: Library staff share details of ongoing programs and collection developments for the senior lunch crowd. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 12:30-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

film

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

GREAT ART WEDNESDAY SERIES: ‘THE IMPRESSIONISTS AND THE MAN WHO MADE THEM’: This 2017 documentary zooms in on the remarkable story of the revolutionary art movement, told through the lens of the 19th-century Parisian collector who made it famous. Anderson Studio at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 11 a.m. $15. Info, 382-3992.

champlain islands/ northwest

REPTILE DAY: Ambassadors from the Vermont Herpetofauna and Nature Center host a hoppin’ day at the museum featuring live snake photo ops, a makeand-take craft station, a scavenger hunt and the chance to get a themed tattoo. (Temporary, of course!) Saint Albans Museum, St. Albans, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 527-7933.

northeast kingdom

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

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘PUPPETS IN PARADISE’: See FRI.10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

SUN.12

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.8. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

DAD GUILD PLAY GROUP: Fathers (and parents of all genders) and their kids ages 5 and under drop in for playtime and connection. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Tabletop role-players ages 9 to 18 practice their craft with the library’s newest dungeon master, Andrew. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differences have the museum to themselves, with adjusted lights and sounds and trusty sensory backpacks. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, kvonderlinn@echovermont.org.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.8.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.8. language

ELL CLASSES: See WED.8. 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

FALL SHIRE CHOIR: See WED.8. ME2 CHORUS REHEARSAL: See WED.8.

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: JUKEBOX QUARTET: Conductor Matt LaRocca hosts a powerful program titled “Strength and Hope,” featuring works by

chittenden county

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD CONCERT

SERIES: STORY TIME WITH LINDSEY

STODDARD: Apple pickers eat up stories and songs for kids from the local author. Shelburne Orchards, 9:30-10 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.

barre/montpelier

GENDER CREATIVE KIDS: Trans and gender-nonconforming kiddos under 13 and their families build community and make new friends at this joyful monthly gathering. Various locations statewide, 2-4 p.m. Free; contact organizer for info and to preregister. Info, 865-9677.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘PUPPETS IN PARADISE’: See FRI.10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

MON.13

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.8.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

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

POKÉMON CLUB: Players trade cards and enjoy activities centered on their favorite strategic game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

mad river valley/waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little kids ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories,

composers who created music for resistance and change. Athenaeum Hall Gallery, St. Johnsbury, 7:308:45 p.m. Free. Info, 864-5741.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.8.

STAR GAZING: Experts from the Vermont Astronomical Society guide attendees’ eyes upward as they point out what’s happening in the night sky. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

québec

‘STONE AND BONE SPECTACULAR’: Dancing beavers, stone-lifting stunts and long-lost lovers punctuate a playful and profound look at the history of Tioh’tià:ke, or Montréal. Centaur Theatre, Montréal, 8 p.m. $22-71. Info, 514-288-3161.

‘WHITE LION, BROWN TIGER’: See SAT.11.

rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TUE.14 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.8.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

‘THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW’: An interactive stage performance brings the spellbinding stories and colorful characters of beloved author Eric Carle to life. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 5 p.m. $42.50. Info, 863-5966.

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.10, 2-6 p.m.

mad river valley/waterbury

WATERCOLOR FOR KIDS: Artist Pauline Nolte leads little painters in grades 2 to 4 in exploration and expression.

seminars

FAMILY-TO-FAMILY: See WED.8. sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.8. theater

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.8, 7:30 p.m. words

SHODO SPRING: An author launches her new book, Open Reality, which offers hope, practical strategies and guidance for those fearful about our planet’s future. The Norwich Bookstore, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

WOMEN IN MYSTERY: Vermont authors Trish Esden, Katy Farber and Kara Lacey celebrate spooky season with a spirited discussion about the inspiration behind their books. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 872-7111. ➆

Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

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

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.10.

WED.15 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.8. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

LIBRARY LITTLES: See WED.8.

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.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.8. GAME ON!: See WED.8. KIDS PUZZLE SWAP: Participants leave completed puzzles (24 to 300 pieces only) in a ziplock bag with an image of the finished product, then find something new to take home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAY TIME: See WED.8.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: Attendees ages 6 and up get into the Halloween spirit with some spooky origami. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.8.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.8. K

e One-Night Stand: A Single Evening of Bike-Care Basics

WED., OCT. 8

OLD SPOKES HOME COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, BURLINGTON

TRS LIVE: Cotter & Friends Ft.

Cotter Ellis of Goose

THU., OCT. 9

TANK RECORDING STUDIO, BURLINGTON

The Chambers DesLauriers Band

THU., OCT. 9

RETRO LIVE, PLATTSBURGH, NY

PechaKucha Night Burlington | Volume 41

THU., OCT. 9

MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BURLINGTON

Glenn Jones + Liam Grant

THU., OCT. 9 THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

Darkness Falls Tour

FRI., OCT. 10-FRI., OCT. 31 199 MAIN ST, BURLINGTON

Self Esteem for Dummies

FRI., OCT. 10 OFF CENTER FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS, BURLINGTON

Fright by Flashlight

SAT., OCT. 11 -SAT., NOV. 1 LAKEVIEW CEMETERY, BURLINGTON

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

DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES:

Discover your happy place in one of our weekly classes. Making art boosts emotional well-being and brings joy to your life, especially when you connect with other art enthusiasts. Select the ongoing program that’s right for you. Now enrolling youths, teens and adults. Join and restore your faith in humanity. Info: 802-4252700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

food & drink

EDIBLE GIFTS FEATURING

CHEF ARIEL VOORHEES: In this hands-on class from

Service, we’ll make a selection of savory edible gifts: snackable treats and ingredients that travel well and spread joy. Sun., Dec. 14, 3-5 p.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

FALAFEL, SHAWARMA & MIDDLE-EASTERN FAVORITES:

Spice things up with this handson class from Chef Ariel Voorhees of Gather Round Chef Service, where we’ll dive into the bold, vibrant flavors of the Middle East. You’ll learn to make crispy falafel, tender shawarma-style chicken, creamy hummus, and other delicious favorites that are perfect for mezze platters or weeknight dinners with flair. Along the way, we’ll talk technique, spices and how to build balanced, crave-worthy plates. We’ll finish by gathering to enjoy the feast together, because food is meant to be shared. Sat., Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: Red Poppy Cakery, 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

FRESH IDEAS IN THANKSGIVING SIDES, FEATURING CHEF ARIEL VOORHEES: Tired of the same old stufﬁng and mashed potatoes? Join chef Ariel Voorhees of Gather Round Chef Service for a fresh take on anksgiving sides that celebrate seasonal ﬂavors and spark new traditions. Sat., Nov. 8, 5-7:30 p.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY: Introductory classes begin October 7th. Cultivate core power, aerobic ﬁtness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and ﬁnd resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/ bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE

WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month. Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.: Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org. Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com. = TICKETED CLASS

BEFORE WINTER GIVEAWAY!

chef Ariel Voorhees of Gather Round Chef

Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Services »

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

Musicians & Artists »

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Frank

AGE/SEX: 3.5-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: September 10, 2025

SUMMARY: Frank came to us after living in a home with many other small dogs. He’s used to being around other pups, but everything outside that familiar world feels pretty scary right now. He is very shy and unsure of new people and places. We’re looking for a quiet, patient home with a fully fenced-in yard. is would allow Frank to explore at his own pace, without the stress of leash walks or unfamiliar environments. He’s gentle, silly and loves to snuggle with people he trusts. With patience and consistency, he will blossom into a loyal, loving companion. He is searching for a calm, steady home where routines are comforting and life moves a little slower.

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Frank is dog-social. We are happy to arrange an introduction at HSCC if you have a resident canine looking for a friend. We have no history of Frank with cats. Frank may thrive in a home with teenagers and adults.

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.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you’re wondering how long it usually takes for a new dog to adjust to a new home, follow the “Rule of 3s”: three days to decompress; three weeks to learn your routine; and three months to feel at home.

R

FURNITURE

ESTATE SALES: BURLINGTON & WILLISTON

Buy y & Se

PETS & SUPPLIES

Williston sale: selling contents of a longtime resident’s Williston, Vt., home. ey include artwork, antique furniture, doll collection incl. furniture & accessories, midcentury items, sterling silver, woodworking power & hand tools, glass & china, Russian items, clocks, household items. Visit estatesales.net/ vt/williston/05495/ marketplace/76672. Spear St. sale: selling select contents of S. Burlington estate. Items for sale incl. artwork (Sabra Field, Katharine Montstream), antique furniture, baby grand piano, antique clock collection, household items &

OLDE ENGLISH BULLDOGGE Purebred, limited registration, ready to go as of Oct 1. $1,500. Comes w/ Vermont health certiﬁ cate. Call or text 802-486-0866.

WANT TO BUY

WANTED: OLD MOTORCYCLES I pay cash & pick up. Any condition, as is. 1920-1980 Harley, Kawasaki Z1, KZ900, H2, Honda CB750, BMW, Indian, Norton & more. Call for a fair offer: 800-220-9683.

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

FALL

& Ar t ists

MUSICIANS & BANDS

SINGER-SONGWRITERS

MEETUP

Local singersongwriter looking for other experienced singer-songwriters to begin monthly creative meetups to foster community, workshop new material, support one another & eventually perform in-the-round acoustic showcases together. (Not beginner level at this time). No fees or formal association afﬁliations. Limited to 20 participants to start. Contact Serina at serene0asis11@ gmail.com. Bio: serina@ serinajung.com.

MUSIC LESSONS

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

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

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

R eal Estate ent

als & APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

Firearms Auction Closes: Tuesday, Oct. 21 @ 10AM

Sporting Auction Closes: Wed. Oct. 22 @ 10AM

BURLINGTON/ DOWNTOWN: ONLY 2 UNITS LEFT

131 Church St. 2 unfurnished, brand-new 2-BR apts. for rent. Avail. now. Amenities incl. A/C, keyless entry, W/D in unit & more. Efﬁ cient & cozy. #301 rent is $2,750 & #304 rent is $2,950 Call 802-391-9089.

3-BR APT. IN E. MIDDLEBURY (HEAT INCL.)

399 E. Main St, Middlebury, Vt. Unfurnished 3-BR, 1-BA, E. apt. w/ ofﬁ ce. $3,000/ mo. Heat, water, trash, lawn mowing incl. in the rent. You pay electricity. W/D in unit. Off-street parking (3 spaces). 1st mo. rent & security due upon signing lease. NS. Quiet pets possible upon approval. Credit & background checks req. Avail. on Nov. 15. Text 802-349-7464.

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.

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 ﬂ oor 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 ﬂ oor

PREVIEW FOR BOTH: Mon.|Oct. 20 | 11AM-1PM LOCATION: 131 Dorset Lane, Williston, VT

plan, separate ofﬁ ce & 2 additional workrooms. e 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 ﬂ exible space is perfect for small businesses, artists or craftspeople. Conveniently located in Monkton, just minutes from Burlington, Hinesburg, Vergennes & Middlebury. Inquire for more details as well as a virtual tour. $3,000. Info, 802-636-0127, north starpropertiesvt@ gmail.com, northstar propertiesvt.tenant cloud.com/listings.

ymail.com. Website: gentletouchesmassage. com

GUT PROBLEMS, INSOMNIA & BRAIN HEALTH? ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! W/ 10 years of clinical experience, Dr. Cheryl Karthaus helps people w/ gut pain, bloating, diarrhea/constipation & sleep problems to poop well & sleep soundly! ose w/ brain fog, fatigue & postconcussion symptoms feel changes within weeks! You CAN feel like yourself again. Info, 802-556-4341, admin@ innatanaturo pathicmedicine.com, innatanaturopathic medicine.com

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

e Board of School Directors gives public notice of its intent to act on local district policies dealing with the following at its meeting scheduled on October 21, 2025: Code C6 - Board Relations with School Personnel Code F38 - Transgender and Non-binary Students Code D2 - Professional Development Copies of the above policies may be obtained for public review at the Ofﬁce of the Human Resources Dept. in Shelburne, VT.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-05410

In re ESTATE of Kimberly Ann Means

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Kimberly Ann Means, late of Milton, Vermont.

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the ﬁrst publication of this notice. e claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. e claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 9/29/2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Nicholas C. Means

Executor/Administrator: Nicholas C. Means c/o Rachel K Lafferty Jarrett | Hoyt 1795 Williston Rd., Suite 125 South Burlington, VT 05403 Phone Number: 802-864-5951 Email: rachel@vtelaw.com

HOME & GARDEN

TREE SERVICE

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/8/2025

HEALTH

MEN, IT’S TIME TO RELAX Massage for men. Offering deep tissue, reﬂ exology, sports, muscle wellness, relaxation, aroma therapy, hot stones or a combination. Relaxing environment & very clean. Central Vermont. Contact: text only, 802522-3932; motman@

Experienced & insured arborist looking to engage w/ the greater community to provide tree services such as pruning, tree removal & hedge trimming. Free estimates. No job too small. Call, text or email Andrew: 508-789-8669, andrew. worringham00@gmail. com.

PROTECT YOUR HOME

Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70 cents a day! Call 1-833-881-2713.

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401

SEEKING COMMENT ON 2025 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT TO HUD FOR VERMONT’S RECOVERY HOUSING PROGRAM

e report is due to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year by October 30, 2025. e Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) staff have written the DRAFT 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for Vermont’s Recovery Housing Program (CAPERRHP). e report is in the format required by HUD. e report includes activity from October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025.

To learn more about the 2025 CAPER-RHP go to DHCD’s website: https://accd.vermont.gov/ community-development/funding-incentives/ vcdp/recovery-housing-program. e DRAFT 2025 CAPER-RHP report will be available on October 13, 2025, on the website.

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

Sudoku

Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience. Extra! Extra! There’s no limit to ad length online.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

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

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test. NEW ON FRIDAYS:

CALCOKU BY JOSH

REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ANSWERS ON P.72 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

Legal Notices

Send questions or written comments to Cindy Blondin at Cindy.Blondin@vermont.gov or call 802-828-5219 or toll free at 1-866-933-6249. Written comments are due by October 28, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Mail to DHCD, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05620-0501, ATTN: Cindy Blondin.

RFP — PAVING SERVICES ON MILTON WESTFORD RD.

The Town of Westford is working with a grant to pave a section of the Milton-Westford Rd, and replace a culvert. The RFP is available at https://westfordvt.us/ careers-rfps/

Any questions can be sent to Tommy O’Connor – Town Administrator at townadmin@westfordvt.us or call the office at 802-878-4587

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN

UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-05518

In re ESTATE of Randy R Barnes

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Randy R Barnes, late of Colchester, Vermont.

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: September 25, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Daniel Barnes

Executor/Administrator: Daniel Barnes

37 Gail St., Winooski, VT 05404

Phone number: 802-488-0727

Email: dantbarnes@gmail.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: 10/8/2025

Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont — Chittenden Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING

INDECENT EXPOSURE

ORDINANCE 6.2

Sponsor: Councilor Traverse, Ordinance Committee

Public Hearing Dates: First Reading: 06/23/25

Referred to: Ordinance Committee

Rules suspended and placed in all stages of passage:

Second reading: 09/29/25

Action: adopted as amended

Date: 09/29/25

Signed by Mayor: 09/30/25

Published: 10/08/25

Effective: 10/28/25

It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows:

That WHEREAS, indecent public exposure invades the privacy of members of the public who are unwillingly or unexpectedly exposed to such conduct and: (1) unreasonably interferes with the rights of all persons to use and enjoy the streets, sidewalks, and other public places; (2) creates a public safety hazard by creating distractions, obstructions, and crowds that interfere with the safety and free flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic; and (3) discourages members of the public from visiting or living in areas where such conduct occurs; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement officials in Burlington are currently limited to addressing indecent public exposure only when it rises to the level of open and gross lewdness under 13 V.S.A. § 2601a; and WHEREAS, a number of municipalities around Vermont have stood up broader public protections from indecent exposure; and WHEREAS, in recent years, there have been multiple reported incidents of indecent public exposure, including in public areas around our schools; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Chapter 21, Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and hereby is amended by adding Section 21-25 to read as follows:

21-25 Public indecent exposure.

(a) Authority. This section is enacted pursuant to the specific authority granted municipalities under 24 V.S.A. § 2291 to promote public health, safety, welfare, and convenience. It is the purpose of this article to regulate public indecent exposure, which is deemed to be a public nuisance.

(b) Definitions.

“Public indecent exposure” is defined as a person exposing their genitals or anus on any street, sidewalk, or other public place.

“Public place” is defined as any location frequented by the public, or where the public is present or likely to be present, or where a person may reasonably be expected to be observed by members of the public, and where nudity or exposure is not necessarily and customarily expected. Public places include, but are not limited to streets, sidewalks, business and commercial establishments (whether for profit or not-for-profit and whether open to the public at large or where entrance is limited by a cover charge or membership requirement), bottle clubs, hotels, motels, restaurants, night clubs, country clubs, cabarets and meeting facilities utilized by any religious, social, fraternal or similar organizations. Premises used solely as a private residence whether permanent or temporary in nature and other places where an individual would not reasonably be expected to be observed by members of the public or where nudity or exposure is necessarily and customarily expected, shall not be deemed a public place.

(c) Unlawful Acts Prohibited. No person shall knowingly or intentionally engage in public indecent exposure. A violation of this section does not require open and gross lewdness as required under 13 V.S.A. § 2601a.

(d) Enforcement. A person who violates this section commits a first offense of indecent exposure punishable by a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) (with a waiver penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00)) for the first offense. A person will be considered to have committed a second offense if it occurs less than six (6) months after a first offense, punishable by a civil penalty of two hundred dollars ($200.00) (with a waiver penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) A person will be considered to have committed a third offense if it occurs less than six (6) months after a second offense, which is a criminal offense, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1974, punishable by a criminal penalty of five hundred dollars ($500.00). Any charges or citations shall be dismissed and the associated penalties shall be waived upon the successful completion of a restorative or reparative justice program through the Community Justice Center or City Circle. In addition to the enforcement procedures listed in this section, the city is authorized to commence a civil action to obtain injunctive and/or other appropriate relief, or to pursue any other remedy authorized by law.

(e) Exceptions.

i. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person under the age of five years.

ii. This section shall not supersede or otherwise affect existing laws regulating nudity under the Burlington Code of Ordinances or Rules and Regulations of the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department.

iii. Persons operating an event or activity under authority of an entertainment permit, parade/street event permit, or parks special use permit are exempt from these provisions. Such persons shall comply with all conditions of such permits or licenses.

BT/Ordinances 2025/Prohibiting Indecent Exposure/ New BCO Sec. 21-25

9/5/25, v.4 CCOC final

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Groundwater Protection Rule and Strategy. Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P036 AGENCY: Agency of Natural Resources CONCISE SUMMARY: The Groundwater Protection Rule and Strategy is the framework the state uses to protect groundwater in permit programs and clean up groundwater when there is a release. This amendment proposes to adopt more stringent standards adopted by EPA’s 2024 Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for five PFAS compounds (HFPO-DA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS, and PFOA) and a hazard index to address mixtures of two or more identified PFAS (HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS). This amendment proposes to not require the permitting review to apply to stormwater, indirect discharge (sewage), or wastewater and potable water supply (wastewater) rules and those programs would address the public trust and groundwater protection in their respective rules. It also makes minor changes to how compliance boundaries are established for cleanups.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Matt Chapman, Agency of Natural Resources, 1 National Life Drive, Davis 1, Montpelier VT 05620 Tel: 802249-4393 E-Mail: matt.chapman@vermont.gov URL: https://dec.vermont.gov/waste-management. FOR COPIES: Bryan Redmond, Agency of Natural Resources, 1 National Life Drive, Davis 1 Montpelier VT 05620 Tel: 802-585-4800 E-Mail: bryan.redmond@vermont.gov.

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0770R-2B 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 4C0770R-2B from Ali & Carol Tahami Living Trust 429 Maeck Farm Road , Shelburne, VT 05482 was received on August 22, 2025 and deemed complete on September 30, 2025. The project is generally described as the construction of a two (2) bedroom accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on existing Lot 3, created under Land Use Permit 4C0770R-2. The lot will continue to host the 4-bedroom single-family dwelling unit (AKA 429 Maeck Farm Road), without any changes. The ADU will be accessed via the existing driveway. The project is located at 429 Maeck Farm Road in Shelburne, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont.gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0770R-2B.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before October 29, 2025, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the

hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@ vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this October 2, 2025.

By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes

Kaitlin Hayes District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-05398

In re ESTATE of : Steffanie L. Borst

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the Creditors of: Steffanie L. Borst, 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 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.

DATE: 10/3/2025

/s/ Alyson S. Borst

Alyson S. Borst, Fiduciary

c/o David E. Peterson, Esq. Gravel & Shea PC P.O. Box 369 Burlington, VT 05402 dpeterson@gravelshea.com (802) 658-0220

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/8/2025

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court

Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401

TOWN OF RICHMOND, VERMONT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PURSUANT TO 24 V.S.A. §4384(d), THE TOWN OF RICHMOND PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 2025, AT 7:00 PM, IN THE RICHMOND TOWN CENTER MEETING ROOM AT 203 BRIDGE STREET TO RECEIVE COMMENT REGARDING THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE UPDATED TOWN PLAN.

TOWN PLAN UPDATE DRAFT SUMMARY:

PURPOSE: THE TOWN OF RICHMOND IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO HAVE A NEW/UPDATED TOWN PLAN EVERY EIGHT YEARS AND POSSESS AN ACTIVE TOWN PLAN IN ORDER TO UPDATE OR AMEND CURRENT ZONING REGULATIONS. THE CURRENT TOWN PLAN WAS APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018 AND EXPIRES ON NOVEMBER 5, 2026. THIS NEW TOWN PLAN DRAFT, IF ADOPTED, WOULD FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF 24 VSA §§§4302, 4382 4384.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA AFFECTED: The Town of Richmond and Environs.

SECTION HEADINGS: Introduction, Technical Plans and Associated Maps (Sections below), Implementation Plan, Appendices. Technical Plan sections include the following: (1) Community Development, (2) Economic Development, (3) Education, (4) Emergency Resilience, (5) Energy, (6) Future Land Use (FLU), (7) Historic Resources, (8) Housing, (9) Natural Resources, (10) Transportation, (11) Utilities and Facilities.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION

AT THE RICHMOND TOWN CENTER OFFICES AT 203 BRIDGE STREET BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00am and 4:00pm, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE RICHMOND PLANNING/ZONING OFFICE AT 802-336-2289 or koborne@richmondvt.gov

POSTED: 11/7/2025

NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON OCTOBER 23, 2025 AT 9:00 AM

Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on October 23, 2025 at 9am EST at 205 Route 4A West, Castleton, VT 05735 (C42), 615 Route 7, Danby VT 05739 (D53). 3466 Richville Rd, Manchester Center, VT 05255 (20), 681 Rockingham Rd, Rockingham, VT 05151 ( R58, R67) 1124 Charlestown Road, Springfield, VT 05156 (CC18, S18), and online at www.storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien

Unit # Name Contents

1 C42 Kathleen Mayer Household Goods

2 20 Lauren Rossics Household Goods

3 R58 Amber Mcdaniel Household Goods

4 R67 Dylan Sheltra Household Goods

5 CC18 Grace Prepost Household Goods

6 S18 Shelby Lebarron Household Goods

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

TOWN OF UNDERHILL DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD (DRB)

ACCESS AND SITE PLAN REVIEW HEARING, DRB DOCKET NO. DRB-25-08.

Site Visit & Hearing: On Monday October 27, 2025, at 22 Park Street Lane, Underhill, VT, a site visit will commence at 6:00 PM followed by a hearing @ 6:30 PM at the Underhill Town Hall, 12 Pleasant Valley Road, Underhill, VT. Remote participation options will also be available, see below.

The Access and Site Plan Review Hearing is based upon an application submitted by Santiago Simbaina regarding access to a preexisting nonconforming lot which is approximately 0.04 acres or 1800 square feet. The proposed access would serve 4 lots; Lot 1 is approximately 0.26 acres, Lot 2 is approximately 0.36 acres, Lot 3 is approximately 0.36 acres, and Lot 4 is approximately 0.37 acres. Lot 2, 3, and 4 are entirely located in Jericho, while a portion of Lot 1 is located in Underhill. The applicant is seeking improved access, which includes the removal of an existing curb cut, the creation of a new curb cut, and the construction of a new driveway which is proposed to serve the 4 lots located at 22 Park Street. The subject property is located in the Underhill Flats Village Center Zoning District.

Application submittals, including information to access the public meeting via the Go-To-Meeting platform or by telephone, may be obtained on the Town’s website calendar under October 27, 2025, or by contacting the Zoning Administrator. The hearing is open to the public. Pursuant to 24 VSA § 4464(a)(1)(C) and 4471(a), participation in this local proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to make any subsequent appeal. If you cannot attend the hearing, comments may be made in writing, prior to the meeting, and mailed to: Maya Holmes, Acting ZA, P.O. Box 120 Underhill, VT 05489 or emailed to: zoning@underhillvt.gov

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 300007-15A

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 300007-15A from Paper Street Soap Company, LLC 16 Casco Street, 3rd Floor, Portland, ME 04101 and C3H8 Holdings LLC P.O. Box 253, Richmond, VT 05477 was received on September 12, 2025 and deemed complete on October 6, 2025. The project is generally described as the after-the-fact approval for a boundary line adjustment and the construction of an 10,000 square foot warehouse building with supporting infrastructure at 59 Avenue C, located within the Griswold Industrial Park. This approval also includes renovations to the existing building, as well as landscaping and lighting improvements, and an additional boundary line adjustment. The project is located at 59 Avenue C in Williston, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont.gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “300007-15A.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before October 29, 2025, a party notifies

the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250. vermont.gov/documents/party-statuspetition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@ vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this October 6, 2025.

By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes

Coordinator

District

111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov

BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

BURLINGTON’S OPEN SPACE PLAN

MDP-26-01 BURLINGTON’S OPEN SPACE PLAN

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. §4384, 4387 and §4432, notice is hereby given of a public hearing by the Burlington Planning Commission to hear comments on the proposed City of Burlington’s Open Space Plan. The public hearing will take place during the Planning Commission Meeting on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 starting at Time Certain 7:15pm. You may access the hearing/meeting as follows:

The meeting will be held in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room at City Hall (149 Church Street) and online via Zoom

To join virtually from a Computer, please click this URL to join, and enter the Webinar ID if prompted: Link: https://zoom.us/j/97941883790?pwd=bGZBNz NyV1liL3p5NkhIL2dqUFIzdz09

Passcode: 658929

Webinar ID: 979 4188 3790

Passcode (if needed): 658929

To join virtually by phone, dial this number and enter the Webinar ID when prompted: Number: +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 979 4188 3790

Pursuant to the requirements of 24 V.S.A. §4444(b):

Statement of purpose:

The Open Space Plan is a roadmap to guide the City of Burlington and its residents, partners, and collaborators as they work together to grow and steward Burlington’s open spaces now and in the future. Burlington is a place where open spaces, water, and the built environment are intertwined in a symbiotic relationship that helps to make Burlington the unique place that is it. As Burlington continues to intensify in density to accommodate its increasing population, the City aims to continue its long-standing commitment to providing equitable access to quality open spaces and stewarding the health of the city’s ecosystems.

Burlington’s Open Space Plan takes an interdisciplinary approach to documenting the City’s open spaces, updating open space goals, and identifying specific resource targets and timelines through a robust community-focused engagement process. Ultimately, this plan is created to ensure that both the community—those who live, work, and recreate here—and the wildlife and flora will continue to thrive for generations to come.

Geographic areas affected: Burlington’s Open Space Plan is applicable to all areas within the City of Burlington.

List of section headings affected: Burlington’s Open Space Plan is a comprehensive rewrite of the previously adopted Open Space Protection Plan (2000 & 2014) and replaces all chapters, appendices, maps, and references.

The full text of the draft 2025 Burlington Open Space Plan is available online at www.burlingtonvt. gov/planbtv/OpenSpace. The proposed plan can be reviewed in hard copy posted on the first floor of City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact the City Planning department or 711 if you are hearing or speech impaired.

BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

BURLINGTON COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

ZA-26-01 TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND MINOR REVISIONS

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. §4441 and §4444, notice is hereby given of a public hearing by the Burlington Planning Commission to hear comments on the following proposed amendments to the City of Burlington’s Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO). The public hearing will take place during the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, with the hearing starting at Time Certain 6:45pm. You may access the hearing/meeting as follows:

The meeting will be held in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room at City Hall (149 Church Street) and online via Zoom

To join virtually from a Computer, please click this URL to join, and enter the Webinar ID if prompted: Link: https://zoom.us/j/97941883790?pwd=bGZBNz NyV1liL3p5NkhIL2dqUFIzdz09

Passcode: 658929

Webinar ID: 979 4188 3790

Passcode (if needed): 658929

To join virtually by phone, dial this number and enter the Webinar ID when prompted: Number: +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 979 4188 3790

Pursuant to the requirements of 24 V.S.A. §4444(b): Statement of purpose:

The purpose of the proposed amendment is as follows:

• The proposed changes in ZA-26-01 all aim to support greater flexibility within current zoning regulations to accommodate development needs and seeks to correct several errors in the CDO, enhancing clarity and consistency in administration for both staff and applicants.

Geographic areas affected: This amendment applies to all areas of the city.

List of section headings affected: The proposed amendments modify the following sections of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance:

• ZA-26-01: Modifies Sec 3.1.2(c) 11; Table 3.5.2-1; and deletes and reserves Sec 3.5.3; modifies Table 4.4.2-1, Sec. 4.4.2 (d) 3 B; Table 4.4.5-1; Sec. 4.4.5(d) 2 B; Sec 4.4.5 (d) 4 D; Table 4.4.5-6; 4.4.5-7; Table 4.5.6-2; Sec 4.5.6-2; and deletes and reserves Sec 4.4.5(d) 4 C; modifies Sec 5.3.5(a); modifies Sec 6.2.2 (m); modifies Sec 7.1.1 and Sec 7.1.4; modifies Sec 9.1.5; Table Sec 9.1.12; Sec 9.2.10 (b); modifies Table 11.1.5-2; modifies Article 13;

The full text of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance is available online at www. burlingtonvt.gov/DPI/CDO. The proposed amendment can be reviewed in hard copy posted on the first floor of City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington or online at https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPI/CDO/ Amendments

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ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Early Childhood Educator

Pine Forest Children’s Center (PFCC) has provided high-quality, play-based early childhood education in Burlington’s South End since 1988. We are currently hiring for multiple positions, including licensed preschool teachers (full-time or part-time) and early childhood educators to join our infant–preschool teams. At PFCC, we value 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 engaging, child-led curriculum, partner closely with families, and receive strong professional development support to grow in the ﬁeld.

Pay: $20–$26/hour plus a $1,000 sign-on bonus

Beneﬁts include: health savings account, dental, vision & life insurance, retirement plan, paid time o , tuition reimbursement, ongoing training, and more.

To apply, send your resume and cover letter to Julie LaFountaine at julie@thepineforest.org. PFCC is an equal opportunity employer.

Animal Care & Control Officer

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.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Copley Hospital in Morrisville/Stowe, VT is hiring a Chief Operating Officer (COO).

This is a rare chance to join a mission-driven, high-performing community hospital with a nationally respected orthopaedics program. Reporting to the CEO, the COO will drive quality, safety, and growth while fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

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! 4t-Copley100125

For more information, please visit copleyvt.org/careers.

Director of Development

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VHCB AmeriCorps Lands and Trails Steward

Conduct conserved lands monitoring, trail maintenance, accessibility improvements, lead volunteers, oversee invasive species control and ecological restoration work, and more. If you enjoy being outside, getting your hands dirty, and teaching other people, this role may be for you.

The position is oﬀered through the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board AmeriCorps. Members receive a living allowance of $30,500 for the service term and an education award of $7,395 upon completion of service. Service begins January 13 and ends December 11, 2026. For more information, visit stowelandtrust.org.

To apply, visit bit.ly/4nxqmbl. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis, with the position open until ﬁlled.

Finding Our Stride (FOS) seeks an energetic, motivated individual with a passion to serve youth to join our small team as Director of Development. The Director of Development will collaborate closely with the Executive Director and be responsible for strategizing, implementing, and managing all development efforts and operations supporting FOS’ continued growth. We are a small, fully remote team, based in the Upper Valley. During the spring and fall program seasons, frequent local travel is expected for school site visits. This is a part-time (50% full-time), salaried position.

Visit 7dvt.pub/rju for full description of job responsibilities. To apply, send resume and cover letter in PDF formats to info@findingourstride.org.

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Production Services Coordinator

Schedule and coordinate studio production shifts, community municipal meetings and events, as well as direct, shoot, edit, and help coordinate fee-forservice projects. Requires a high level of professionalism, communication, technical video production, and the ability to collaborate.

Send your application to careers@mediafactory.org

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LEGAL ASSISTANT

BURLINGTON, VT

Sheehey Furlong & Behm, an established, growing law firm located near the Burlington waterfront, is accepting applications for a legal assistant. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, possess strong written and verbal skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Proficiency in MS Office applications is required.

Legal experience is preferred, but we will train the right applicant. The anticipated pay range for this position is $24 - $30 per hour. Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package.

Please forward cover letter and resume to hiring@sheeheyvt.com, subject “Legal Assistant.”

Stoneledge Studio

is a boutique interior design studio based in Vermont, known for its modern farmhouse interiors that fuse warmth, authenticity, and global inspiration. The team o ers 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.

We are currently hiring for 2 positions:

OPERATIONS MANAGER

The Operations Manager at Stoneledge Studio plays a key role in maintaining e ciency 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.

For full details visit: 7dvt.pub/StoneledgeJobs

To apply, please send cover letter and resumes to: mika@stoneledgestudio.com

VHCB AmeriCorps Lands and Trails Steward

The position is offered through the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board AmeriCorps. Members receive a living allowance of $30,500 for the service term and an education award of $7,395 upon completion of service. Service begins January 13 and ends December 11, 2026. For more information, visit stowelandtrust.org

To apply, visit http://bit.ly/4nxqmbl. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis, with the position open until ﬁlled.

PHYSICAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR

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Executive Director

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.

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, 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

The deadline for applications is October 30, 2025.

The Facilities Department at Saint Michael’s College is seeking applications for a full-time Physical Services Supervisor. The position will manage several smaller departments within Physical Services to include: Grounds, Shipping & Receiving, Mechanic and Special Services.

The position is Monday-Friday, 6:30am-3:00pm with the need for overtime and working off hours/days at times. The hourly rate for this position is up to $27.88 - $29.91 based on experience.

For a full job description, visit 7dvt.pub/206

4-StMichaelsCollege-100825.indd 1 10/7/25 1:31 PM

OPEN!

Are you our next Guest Services Representative? Buyer? Produce Associate?

Scan to see all open positions!

Apply

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

COMMERCIAL CREDIT ANALYST

VEDA has an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to join its Commercial Lending Team as a Commercial Credit Analyst.

The work location can be in VEDA’s Burlington, Montpelier, or Middlebury offices and some remote work may be available after an initial period. This position reports directly to the Chief Lending Officer.

VEDA provides financing to businesses and farms across Vermont, often in partnership with private financial institutions and government agencies. This position is responsible for analyzing borrower and potential borrower credit and providing support for loan origination and loan servicing actions. Primary responsibilities include reviewing loan applications, preparing loan narratives/credit write-ups and keeping borrower financing information current.

Preferred candidates will have a bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, accounting, business, or related field and at least three years of credit analysis experience.

VEDA offers a competitive salary and excellent health and retirement benefits. Other perks include a flexible work environment, professional development opportunities, and access to networking.

VEDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer and is interested in increasing staff diversity. We welcome job applications from all qualified candidates.

To apply, please email resume & cover letter to Cheryl Houchens: chouchens@veda.org.

JOIN THE LUND COMMUNITY OF PASSIONATE AND COMPASSIONATE STAFF!

At Lund, we believe in building a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to make a difference every day. We believe that when our staff thrives, our children and families thrive. Whether your passions and professional experiences lie in direct service work or behind-the-scenes operations, and whether you’re looking for full-time work, part-time, or substitute positions, there’s a place here for you to bring your talents, creativity, and heart to the work we do serving Vermont children and families.

ADOPTION FINALIZATION

CASE MANAGER

Full-Time, Starting Rate is $25/hr

COMMUNITY CASE MANAGER

Newport, Full-Time, Starting Rate is $25/hr

FACILITY CASE MANAGER

Newport, Full-Time, Starting Rate is $25/hr

RESIDENTIAL CASE MANAGER

Full-time, Starting Rate is $25/hr

RESIDENTIAL SHIFT SUPERVISOR

Full-Time, Hourly Range: $25$27/hr

RESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR

Full-time, Part-time, and Substitute, Starting rate is $24/hr for PT or FT roles, and $21 for substitutes. $2.50 shi differential for overnight and weekend shi s.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR

Substitute, Starting Rate is $21/hr

For the full list of job postings and to apply, go to:

LITIGATION PARALEGAL

BURLINGTON, VT

Sheehey Furlong & Behm, an established, growing law firm located near the Burlington waterfront, is accepting applications for a litigation paralegal. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, possess strong written, verbal and research skills as well as the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in MS Office applications is required. 1-3 years of legal experience, whether in law offices or government or the judiciary, is preferred. All inquiries will be treated confidentially. Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package offered. The anticipated pay range for this position is $28-$35 per hour.

Forward cover letter and resume to hiring@sheeheyvt.com, subject “Litigation Paralegal.”

CLIENT SERVICE 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:

• 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.

• Support advisors with client-related needs, including ﬁnancial plans and Investment Policy Statements (IPS).

• Provide general o ce 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

• Willingness to ask questions

• Capacity to resolve conﬂicts professionally

• Flexibility to handle multiple demands and competing priorities

• Detail oriented with strong organizational skills

Send resumes to: info@rockpointadvisors.com

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. 2v-VNRC100125.indd

Accounting & 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.

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

Please send resumes and cover letters to: Thomas Leitz, Municipal Manager, tleitz@waterburyvt.com

Position is open until filled.

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.

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

Graduate Nurse Residency Program

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.

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. Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

Account Manager

Pivot Marketing, a Burlington-based digital marketing agency, is looking for an enthusiastic Account Manager to join our team. You’ll manage client relationships, support project execution, and help lead paid search, paid social, and reporting efforts.

Pivot Marketing is a full-funnel digital agency specializing in higher education. With offices in Burlington and Boston, we support local and national clients. We partner with colleges/universities to deliver data-driven campaigns that drive growth and innovation. Guided by our values of curiosity, realness, integration, approachability, and joy, we create a collaborative team culture that fosters exceptional client partnerships, and pride ourselves on a work-life balance that’s both passionate and people-first.

Key Responsibilities:

• Client Management: Serve as the primary contact, build relationships, understand business goals, and guide digital strategy.

• Project Oversight: Coordinate internal teams and vendors to meet timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

• Team Collaboration: Assign tasks, support innovation, and encourage proactive thinking.

• Campaign Strategy: Assist in planning and execution of digital campaigns aligned with client objectives.

• Budget & Reporting: Monitor budgets and campaign performance; deliver actionable insights through reporting.

• Quality Control: Track hours, ensure campaign quality, and maintain contract alignment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Prior experience in a client-facing digital marketing role within higher education is strongly preferred.

• Knowledge of Google Ads, Meta Ads, Google Analytics, and related tools.

• Strong project management, communication, and problemsolving skills.

• Self-driven and eager to stay current on digital marketing trends.

Salary: $62,000–$72,000/year, depending on experience.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

4t-NVRH032625.indd

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Watershed Specialist

Join the Vermont Land Trust as a Watershed Specialist. We are seeking a Watershed Specialist who can:

• 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.

• 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.

NOW HIRING IN COLORADO’S TOP SKI RESORTS

At Christy Sports, we believe Outside is Better. It’s not just a motto, it’s a fact. It makes people happier, healthier, and more connected. That’s why we go out of our way to help people experience the mountain lifestyle by building authentic relationships, offering humble expertise, and sharing a genuine love for what we do. Driven by our unmatched passion for the outdoors, we are always advancing. In-store and online, within our industry, and with the communities we serve, we bring a spirit of innovation to every aspect of what we do. Skiing and snowboarding aren’t just a job for us, it’s a lifestyle. No matter your level, we strive to give you the best experience possible and invite you to experience the joy of mountain life and sport with us.

We’re hiring for winter seasonal positions in Colorado and other mountain destinations — including Vail, Aspen, Telluride, Steamboat, Winter Park, Breckenridge, and more:

RENTAL TECH

REPAIR TECH

HARDGOODS SALES (skis, boots, bindings)

SOFTGOODS SALES (apparel & accessories)

BOOTFITTER

Perks & Benefits:

• Free ski pass

• Employee discounts on gear, apparel, and more

• Be part of a passionate team of riders, skiers, and outdoor lovers

• Flexible scheduling, Limited housing available in certain locations

Whether you're a long-time local or new to snow season life, you'll join a team that values knowledge, service, and a shared love for the mountains. We’re hiring on a rolling basis, so apply early. If you’re ready to work hard, help people gear up, and make the most of the season — we’d love to hear from you.

Anticipated start date: Mid-November

Apply online: christysports.com/careers

Vermont Town Careers

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

“Whatever experience you come with is valuable, and I cannot imagine you not loving it here.”

– 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! 5h-ChamplainCommunityServices100125_converted

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

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

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

Assistant to the Executive Director

ROLE OVERVIEW: Are you a powerhouse of organization, discretion, and poise under pressure? The University of Vermont’s University Housing & Dining Services (UHDS) seeks an Assistant to the Executive Director — a pivotal role for an experienced professional who thrives in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. This is more than calendar management or inbox triage. We need someone who has built a career supporting senior executives — who anticipates needs, distinguishes priorities, and exercises sound judgment with urgency and discretion.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

• Full-time, year-round, benefits-eligible.

• Salary range: $50,700 – $58,500

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Tuition remission for employees and eligible dependents

• 45+ days vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Retirement plan

• Relocation stipend

WHY JOIN UVM? UVM offers one of the region’s most comprehensive benefits packages, including outstanding health coverage, a competitive retirement plan, and generous time off. Tuition remission makes higher education more accessible and affordable for employees and their families.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a dynamic, often unpredictable calendar with precision.

• Handle sensitive personnel, legal, and strategic matters with discretion.

• Serve as the Executive Director’s right hand — tracking priorities and ensuring no detail falls through the cracks.

• Stay calm under pressure and keep competing demands moving forward.

• Collaborate across a large university system, communicating clearly and diplomatically.

• If you’ve spent your career supporting senior leaders, love a challenge, and want to work in a mission-driven environment with excellent benefits, this may be the perfect next step.

OTHER INFORMATION: Flexibility to work evenings and weekends to meet departmental needs is required. A probationary period and background check may be required.

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE: There’s a place for you at UVM. Learn more at go.uvm.edu/identity-centers. The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by law. The University encourages applications from all individuals who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution.

Tell them to audition for the 12th annual Kids VT Spectacular Spectacular! e top 20 acts will perform in a live showcase on Saturday, December 6, at Higher Ground.

Performers must be between the ages of 5 and 16 and live in Vermont.

DEADLINE: Upload 2-minute audition videos by 10 p.m. on October 26 at sevendaysvt.com/talent-show.

QUESTIONS? Contact Julia Maguire at 802-341-3067 or julia@sevendaysvt.com.

BY WITH

FROM Know a budding comedian, singer, dancer or magician?

fun stuff

“She said she and some friends were going out back to look for dinosaurs.”

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

RUSTY EPSTEIN

JULIANNA BRAZILL

JOHN KLOSSNER

LIBRA

(SEP. 23-OCT. 22)

Libra architect Christopher Alexander developed a sixth sense about why some spaces feel comfortable while others are alienating. What was the source of his genius? He avoided abstract principles and studied how people actually used spaces. His best architecture soulfully coordinated the relationships between indoor and outdoor areas, private and public zones, and individual needs and community functions. The “quality without a name” was the term he used to identify the profound aliveness, wholeness and harmony of spaces where people love to be. In the coming weeks, Libra, I hope you access your own natural gift for curating relationships and cultivating balance. Your solutions should serve multiple needs. Elegant approaches will arise as you focus on connections rather than isolated parts.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): No relationship is like any other. The way we bond with another has a distinctive identity that embodies the idiosyncratic chemistry between us. So in my view, it’s wrong to compare any partnership to a supposedly ideal template. Fortunately, you Aries are in a phase when you can summon extra wisdom about this and other relaxing

truths concerning togetherness. I recommend you devote your full creativity and ingenuity to helping your key bonds ripen and deepen.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Poet Rainer

Maria Rilke advised, “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.” These days, dear Taurus, that’s your power move: to stay in conversation with mystery without forcing premature answers. Not everything needs to be fixed or finalized. Your gift is to be a custodian of unfolding processes: to cherish and nourish what’s ripening. Trust that your questions are already generating the early blooms of a thorough healing.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): I am a great admirer of Bart Simpson, a fictional fourthgrade student on the animated TV show “The Simpsons.” He is a constant source of unruly affirmations that we could all benefit from incorporating into our own behavior when life gets comically weird. Since I think you’re in such a phase now, Gemini, I am offering a batch of Bart-style gems. For best results, use them to free yourself from the drone of the daily routine and scramble your habitual ways of understanding the world. Now here’s Bart: 1) “I will not invent a new religion based on bubble gum.” 2) “I will not sell bottled ‘invisible water.’” 3) “I will not try to hypnotize my friends, and I will not tell coworkers they are holograms.” 4) “I will not claim to be a licensed pyrotechnician.” 5) “I will not use the Pythagorean theorem to summon demons.” 6) “I will not declare war on Thursdays.”

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): During its entire life, the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis grows just two leaves. They never wither or fall off but continually grow, twist, split and tatter for hundreds of years. They keep thriving even as their ends are worn or shredded by wind and sand. I love how wild and vigorous they look, and I love how their wildness is the result of their unfailing persistence and resilience. Let’s make Welwitschia mirabilis your inspirational symbol in the coming weeks, Cancerian. May it motivate you to nurture the quiet, enduring power in your depths that enables you to express yourself with maximum uniqueness and authenticity.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Have you been to Morocco? I love that so many houses there are built around spacious courtyards with intricate tilework and lush gardens. Sooner or later, of course, the gorgeous mosaiclike floors need renovations. The artisans who do the work honor the previous artistry. “In rebuilding,” one told me, “our goal is to create new magnificence that remembers the old splendor.” I hope you pursue an approach like that in the coming weeks, Leo. The mending and healing you undertake should nourish the soulfulness you have cultivated, even as you polish and refine.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Virgo novelist Agatha Christie often planned her elaborate plots while cleaning her house or washing dishes. She said such repetitive, physical tasks unlocked her creativity, allowing ideas to emerge without force. I suggest you draw inspiration from her method in the coming weeks. Seek your own form of productive distraction. Instead of wrestling with a problem in a heroic death match, lose yourself in simple, grounding actions that free your mind to wander. I am pretty sure that your most brilliant and lasting solutions will emerge when you’re not trying hard to come up with brilliant and lasting solutions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Some medieval mystics claimed that angels spoke in paradoxes because the truth was too rich for simple logic. These days, I believe you Scorpios are extra fluent in paradox. You are raw yet powerful, aching and grateful, confounded but utterly clear. You are both dying and being reborn. My advice: Don’t try to resolve the contradictions. Immerse yourself in them, bask in them and allow them to teach you all they have to teach. This may entail you sitting with your sadness as you laugh and letting your desire and doubt interweave. The contradictions you face with open-heartedness will gift you with sublime potency and authority.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The ancient city of Petra, built in sandstone cliffs in what’s now Jordan, was mostly hidden from the outside world for centuries. In 1812, Sagittarian Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it by disguising himself as a pilgrim. He trained extensively in the Arabic

language, Islamic culture and local customs so he could travel incognito. You Sagittarians can benefit from a similar strategy in the coming weeks. Life will conspire to bring you wonders if you thoroughly educate yourself about the people and situations you would like to influence. I invite you to hike your empathy up to a higher octave, cultivate respect for what’s unfamiliar, and make yourself extra available for exotic and inspiring treasures.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): During the 1800s, countless inventors chased the impossible dream of perpetual-motion machines: contraptions that would run endlessly without any fuel source. Every attempt failed; such devices bucked the fundamental laws of physics. But here’s good news, Capricorn: You are close to cracking the code on a metaphorical version of perpetual motion. You are cultivating habits and rhythms that could keep you steady and vital for a long time to come. I predict the energy you’re generating will be self-sustaining.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood. They taste with their skin, solve puzzles and squeeze their entire bodies through coin-size holes. No wonder they are referred to as the aliens of Earth, just as you Aquarians are the aliens of the zodiac. According to my analysis, now is a perfect time for you to embrace your inner octopus. I authorize you to let your strangeness lead the way. You have the right and duty to fully activate your multidimensional mind. Yes, you may be misunderstood by some. But your suppleness, radical empathy and nonlinear genius will be exactly what’s needed. Be the one who sees escape routes and paths to freedom that no one else perceives. Make the impossible look natural.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Dear Pisces, it’s like you’re in one of those dreams when you’re exploring the attic or basement of your home and discover secret rooms you didn’t realize existed. This is good! It means you are finding uncharted frontiers in what you assumed was familiar territory. It suggests you are ready to see truths you weren’t ready for before. Congrats! Keep wandering and wondering, and you will discover what you didn’t even know you needed to know.

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.

WOMEN seeking...

OUTDOORSY

Minnesota transplant looking for someone to spend time with who’s up for exploring this beautiful state and beyond. MNRoots 51, seeking: M, l

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

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

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

WANT TO RESPOND?

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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

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

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

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 64 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

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

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

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

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

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...

HONEST, FUNNY AND KIND

I am an honest, down-to-earth person who likes to be active and adventurous in all seasons. My family is an important part of my life, and I hope yours is, too. I don’t mind being in gatherings, but I prefer hiking or skiing with my dog in the woods. If you are honest, considerate and kind, let me know. TEP 61, seeking: W, l

OOKIB PA NUV OR FRIENDS

I love travel, woodworking and working on my pickup. I love walking while holding hands and new restaurants, movies and fishing on the shore. I have an associate’s in computer programming. I love repairing antique clocks. I am looking for honesty, respect, good morals and the ability to stand on one’s own. Hottbob, 65 seeking: W, Cp, Gp

HOLY MAN SEEKING FOR TRUE LOVE

I’m a hopeless romantic lover, kindhearted. I enjoy every day like my last one. I think the best way to live is to add value to life. I am looking for this special person who wants adventure and tender love. Just you and me. Holyman1960, 65, seeking: W, l RETIRED PROFESSOR, ADVENTURER, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER

I am looking for a partner with whom I can share future adventures. Physically fit, I spend a great deal of time exploring northern New England when I am not home caring for my kids — four dogs and two cats. I live on 10 acres in northern Vermont and enjoy being home as much as traveling to new locations. SojournsInNature 71, seeking: W, l SINGLE, COUNTRY GUY, LAID-BACK

I am easygoing and retired. Travel, pets, water activities and volunteering in my community are important to me. My wife of 37 years passed, and now, 4 years later, I am looking for a new partner in life. I would love to find a lady who loves the outdoors, travel and is retired. Water activities are big with me. MSC, 70, seeking: W, l

STRAIGHTFORWARD, SPONTANEOUS, SENSUAL, SEXUAL

I am a middle-aged guy looking for fun, at least to start. Life’s too short to waste another opportunity, so the answer’s yes, until further notice. We can go one-on-one or I can be a couple’s three. If in a group, just message me. I’m 6 feet, 235 lbs. with salt-and-pepper hair. Live, laugh, lust, love. BigT0489, 42, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l OLDER, LAID-BACK GENTLEMAN

I’m a cross between George Carlin and Bugs Bunny. My interests are as varied as a sunrise and sunset. The days bring forth their own unique agenda, and I do my best to follow along. I’ve lived in cities and country alike and am comfortable in both. AwestruckbyU 67, seeking: W, l

SIMPLE LOOKING FOR SIMPLE WOMAN

Trying me is adopting me — every woman’s dream. danyboy 67, seeking: W

LOOKING FOR FRIEND WITH BENEFITS!

My husband is looking to connect physically with a women. After a cancer diagnosis seven years ago and reconstruction that didn’t go well, I am now healing from a natural breast reconstruction. However, they are too tender to play with! If you’re playful and can help meet his needs, please reach out! Maybe later on I could join! Funandcuriousinthe802, 57, seeking: W

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

SEX WITH OLDER MEN

Just looking for good, old-fashioned M2M sex. Bear37bear 55 seeking: M

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

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 MUSICIAN/WRITER/DANCER SEEKS CONNECTION

I love writing, making music, dancing, being out in nature, understanding new things, stepping up, learning what other folks care about and trying to make a positive difference in the world. I’m an incorrigible optimist who predicts dire things, a gentle person with a steel core, an introverted social butterfly. Seeking creative, compassionate, joyful connection! Sylph, 56, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, 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. Learning Spanish or ASL? Practice with me. WildWeirdWonderful 41, seeking: W, Q, NC, NBP, l

COUPLES seeking...

LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS

Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires. Jackrabbits, 61, seeking: W, Cp

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

PHIL ABAIR

We danced a couple of songs (you rocked the ﬂoor comfortably all alone). You mentioned it was your exercise and your feet were hurting, so you were leaving. I had a dance partner for the evening but would enjoy an opportunity to be yours on another night. Let’s dance the night away! When: Friday, October 3, 2025. Where: On Tap. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916448

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: Charlotte Post Ofﬁce. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916442

I FORGOT MY CREDIT CARD

You were tending the bar on a busy Saturday night and were very chatty. We talked brieﬂy about golf, and I suggested we get together and play, and you agreed, however, we never exchanged numbers. I don’t often frequent the establishment, however, I’ll try to stop by again in hopes that I catch your shift. When: Saturday, October 4, 2025. Where: e Den in Williamstown. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916447

MODESTLY REGAL AT THE RACETRACK

Saw you walking on the path out of under Road raceway. You had mediumlength dark hair and were more formally dressed than most: a combination of black and white, maybe with a checked shawl or scarf? Your male companion: black shirt, glasses and hair. I like how open you seemed; you were looking into people’s faces as you left. When: Sunday, October 5, 2025. Where: under Road raceway. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916446

JORDAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER

I was sitting on the rocks reading a book. I’m glad you walked over to say hello. I should have walked closer to you, so I could have heard everything you were saying, as I probably seemed rude for just hollering back replies. I had a lot on my mind. I hope the pictures you took turned out nice. — Sarah When: ursday, October 2, 2025. Where: at the Winooski River. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916445

BEAR SEASON CAME EARLY

For the handsome, dark-haired man hiking shirtless around noon on Long Trail North: Whoa! Noticed! When: Sunday, September 14, 2025. Where: Long Trail near Bolton Crag. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916444

OODLES AND POODLES

I spy your grace, your softness and poise, your smile, your authenticity. You’re a thoughtful and caring lady, full of empathy and a joyful soul. Lucky doesn’t do justice to the jackpot I found in you. You’re the great love of my life. You’re Dwellness personiﬁed. I’d marry you a thousand times and again ten thousand more. I’m forever yours. When: Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Where: Dwellness by Steinmetz. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916443

CONFUSION AT HANNAFORD’S

Your refusal to say yes when I offered you my shopping cart was an experience that I would love to re-create with you again. I found your thoughtfulness and situation quite intriguing and comical. You: pretty little lady. Me: old gray-haired gentleman. Let’s see? When: Monday, September 29, 2025. Where: New North End. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916440

SHELBURNE BAY TRAIL WITH DOGS

You said, “What a cutie!” I said, “Oh! You mean my dog!” We laughed, shared a quick conversation, but then you went to the shore to play in the water with your handsome retriever, and I returned to my car. We both looked back at each other without making a plan to meet, and here’s how we can. When: ursday, September 18, 2025. Where: Shelburne Bay Park Trail. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916438

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

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

BREWSTER RIVER. PHOTOGRAPHER. You were tall, with a beard and tattoos. You directed me to the best path to the gorge. en 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

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

De All B ked Out,

De Rev end,

I moved into a town house, and my neighbor’s sweet dog barks frequently for 30-plus minutes at a time when they are gone. It’s quite frustrating. I have had a dog and know it can be challenging. I wish I could help the doggo feel better. How can I tactfully broach the subject with my lovely neighbor?

ﬁrst interaction with a neighbor should be a negative one. Since you describe them as “lovely,” I’m going to assume that you have at least met them and know them well enough to share cordial how-do-you-dos.

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

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. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916430

REVO CASINO

is is a long shot, like our gambling. Playing that silly cat game — hopefully you won after I left. Should’ve gotten your number. When: ursday, September 11, 2025. Where: Revo Casino and Social House, Lebanon, N.H. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916431

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

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

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

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

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

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

SHAW’S

B., those are some mighty ﬁne legs you have! When: Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Where: Shaw’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916422 information. to

You could casually strike up a conversation the next time you see your neighbor outside. But since you live in a town house and share a wall, it might feel like the distressed dog is practically inside your own home, so it may behoove you to take a more direct approach.

You must have some idea of your neighbor’s schedule, so choose a time when they won’t be rushing off to work or settling down for dinner, and knock on their door. (Pro tip: Don’t show up emptyhanded. Bring a little houseplant, some cookies or a bottle of wine.)

Ask if they have a minute to chat, and then let them know what’s been happening. Be honest, but approach

it from the understanding angle of having had a dog yourself. Be clear that you’re as concerned about the dog as the noise. Your neighbor likely has no idea that the dog barks so much when they aren’t home, so they will probably appreciate the information. You could even suggest a little experiment: Have your neighbor pretend to leave for the day and then sneak over to your place so they can hear the barking for themselves.

How to get the dog to actually stop barking is beyond my realm of expertise, but there are plenty of online resources and local dog trainers for that. I don’t know how involved you want to get, but you could offer to help your neighbor ﬁnd a solution. Heck, if you need a dog ﬁx, you could even offer to pop over and visit the fuzzy buddy, but that may be a bit much.

With a little neighborly cooperation, hopefully it won’t be a dog’s age before you get some peace and quiet.

Good luck and God bless,

The Rev end

Very discreet bi guy loves the outdoors: camping, hiking, ﬁshing, etc. Looking for other guys with similar interests to share fun times and have good times with. Hit me up! #L1890

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 am looking for an 81-y/o woman. #L1884

Male looking for female, age 59 to 69. I am disabled but still get around on my own. Looking for someone to hang with, since I am all alone and hate it. My partner passed from cancer. #L1888

I’m an 81-y/o woman seeking a male. I am a widow of ﬁve years. Looking for companionship. Love music, reading and knitting, crocheting and playing card games, etc. #L1887

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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PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above. 2

Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

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

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

Int net-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness le ers. 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

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

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

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

I’m 65 y/o and gay. Male, seeking my partner/lover and best friend. Gregarious and funloving. 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

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

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

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) Required conﬁdential info:

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MAIL TO: SEVEN DAYS LOVE LETTERS • PO BOX 1164, BURLINGTON, VT 05402

OPTIONAL WEB FORM: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LOVELETTERS HELP: 802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

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INSTANT HEADSHOT LOUNGE

Come camera-ready and get a professional proﬁle pic by StoryWorkz. Book by 10/24 for a discounted $15 session. Limited walk-ups.

At this annual career and tech expo, talk with dozens of exhibitors, including Vermont colleges and universities, about a wide array of tech-related opportunities.

FREE PRESENTATIONS

Taking the FIRST Step (11 a.m.)

Vermont robotics teams and local tech companies show o their robots and discuss their winning collaborations. Moderated by FIRST-alum Jaine Perotti from Greensea IQ and Laura Treers from UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.

The AI Will See You Now (1 p.m.)

Can AI help cut health care costs or improve patient outcomes? Artiﬁcial intelligence is transforming the medical profession as we speak. What are some of the challenges and opportunities for patients and providers? Hear how researchers and representatives from local companies are navigating this rapidly changing ﬁeld. Moderated by Ken Picard of Seven Days

RÉSUMÉ REVIEW

Drop in at the Targeted Resume and get some free advice from Sue Schlom for your job search. Don’t forget your résumé!