The Vermont Medical Society prevailed after suing the Trump administration for removing scientific data from federal websites. The info will be restored.
$39 million
That’s the asking price of a publishing heir’s home in Barnard. It’s got two bedrooms, guest cottages, 400 acres and a 12-sided ceiling in the Cathedral Room. Jeezum crow.
MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM
1. “Popular School Chef Is Fired by National Food Service Company” by Alison Novak. Boston-based Genuine Foods took over the Williamstown Middle High School cafeteria and axed Tom Corbett, 69.
2. “Drug Debt Prompted Fatal Burlington Beating, Police Say” by Derek Brouwer. Investigators said Scott Kastner, 42, was the victim of a “mob-style assault” that began on Church Street. Two people face murder charges.
Survivors of St. Joseph’s Orphanage — a long-shuttered institution in Burlington with a dark legacy of abuse — gathered with supporters in Kieslich Park last Friday afternoon to mark the unveiling of a memorial in their honor.
e project follows a public reckoning over the abuse that young residents suffered decades ago. Artist Clay Mohrman designed and built its elegant archway of stripped black locust tree branches, which frames a footpath leading to Lake Champlain.
Boulders engraved with messages from survivors dot the path, including uplifting poems and somber acknowledgments of the suffering children endured over the orphanage’s 140-year history. Community garden plots flank the memorial, which is steps from the former orphanage building. It’s now an apartment complex on North Avenue in the Cambrian Rise development.
“ is memorial healing space is our biggest and last major project that we set out to accomplish from the restorative justice inquiry,” Brenda Hannon, an orphanage survivor, said to the crowd of roughly 80 who gathered in the park. “We hope this space provides healing, peace, laughter, reflection and joy.”
Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage, a group made up of some of the institution’s last survivors, worked with
Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront to design the memorial. It took years of planning and was funded by the State of Vermont, the City of Burlington, the Pomerleau Family Foundation, and donations from more than 50 individuals and small foundations.
During the ceremony, people who lived in the orphanage as youngsters reflected on the trauma they live with and the years of work that it took to arrive at this point. Under the archway, Debi Gevry, 62, spoke of the 10 years that she and her siblings lived at the orphanage before it closed in 1974. Her father, an auto mechanic, placed them there thinking they would be better off, she said.
“He now lives with the shame and the guilt of what happened to his children,” Gevry said between tears. “My children also have suffered through many nights with their mother emotionally unavailable to their needs.
“I have unknowingly passed on my fears and anxiety to the next generation,” she said. “ is is just a small example of the ripple effect emotional and physical abuse carries. I have yet to heal from the traumas hidden deep in my soul. I may never be completely whole, but I will not be silenced.”
Survivors cut a ribbon hanging across the archway. en they walked through it, their arms linked.
Read Lucy Tompkins’ full story at sevendaysvt.com.
Killington Resort is auctioning o old gondola cabins — for a few thousand bucks each — through Friday, September 12. Mountain views not included.
For the third year running, o cials will close Cloudland Road in Woodstock and Pomfret to leaf peepers. If only there were other scenic spots in Vermont…
UVM earned the No. 1 spot in the Princeton Review’s list of “Best Schools for Making an Impact.” Also nabbed a No. 2 for “Reefer Madness.”
3. “State Regulators Urged to Cut UVM Medical Center’s Budget” by Colin Flanders. A memo written by former Human Services secretary Mike Smith accuses the hospital of overstating the impact of recent cost-cutting measures.
4. “Vermont Receives Disputed EV Funds” by Kevin McCallum. e state will receive the federal funding for electric vehicle chargers that it was promised before the Trump administration paused the program in January.
5. “In the Shadow of a Notorious Orphanage, a Memorial Is Unveiled” by Lucy Tompkins. e story is reprinted on this page.
LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS
University Explores Municipal Partnership With Johnson Vermont State University and Johnson officials are considering a plan to relocate town and village offices to the school’s local campus, the News & Citizen reported. Johnson town offices on Lower Main Street were flooded in July 2023. e campus is on higher ground.
Read more at vtcng.com/news_and_citizen.
Drivers heading north on Interstate 89 through South Burlington last ursday were treated to a curious sight. Above the highway on the Patchen Road overpass, a group of women held up large pieces of cardboard with the words “Epstein Files” written in capital letters.
“We had painted ‘Epstein Files Now,’” said Jeanne Keller, one of the group’s organizers, “but it was so windy up there that it took four people to hold the word ‘Epstein.’”
Keller and her crew aren’t conspiracyminded MAGA adherents but rather true-blue progressives who say they want to know what President Donald Trump’s administration is hiding about late wealthy pedophile Jeffrey
Epstein. is particular showing was inspired by a press conference last week in Washington, D.C., staged by some of the women who survived sexual abuse at the hands of Epstein.
“Where are the Republicans on this? Why are we carrying this weight?” Keller asked. “But we will. We will until there’s justice for these women.”
Keller said the location was intentional: A large contingent of people heading north on the highway are commuters who live in more conservative parts of the state. Many of those honking in support were tractor-trailer drivers, she said.
“ e target for this is Republicans,” Keller said. “You should be ashamed and mortified that your president is stonewalling on this.”
Keller’s been organizing against Trump since the Women’s March during his first term,
in January 2017. She’s registered voters and sent tens of thousands of postcards to swingstate residents. But more recently, in Trump’s second term, she and a small group of “old hippies” decided to become more “action oriented” under the name “Resister Sisters.”
During the No Kings protest in June, they held a die-in on the Burlington waterfront meant to reflect the impact of Trump’s policies.
ey’ve also protested outside the South Burlington Tesla dealership and handed out leaflets at the Burlington Farmers Market.
Standing on a highway overpass with a large banner was their first action mentioning Epstein — and won’t be the last, Keller said.
“Next time, we’re going to make it even bigger,” she said.
SASHA GOLDSTEIN
Saeed jones - maggie smith - alexander chee
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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
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Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston
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Bryan Parmelee
LOVE LETTER TO SEVEN DAYS [Re 30th Birthday Issue, September 3]: Writers, journalists, photographers, artists and editors — over time, they earn trust, develop a voice and build a record of what matters. Seven Days has done this every single week. It has chronicled our joys and heartbreaks, our hidden gems and our loudest debates. And in doing so, it has invited us to better understand where we live and how we live.
With Dr. Allison Cowan, Board Certified Veterinary Neurologist
De Dr. C an,
De W ied Own ,
Eva Sollberger
My 4-year-old golden retriever, Max, had his first seizure three weeks ago. He shook uncontrollably, paddled his legs, and was disoriented for 20 minutes afterward. He’s had two more since then. Our vet started medication, but I’m worried. What causes seizures in dogs? —W ied in W dstock
Witnessing your pet’s first seizure is terrifying, but with proper treatment, many dogs with seizures live normal, happy lives.
Seizures have three main causes. Idiopathic epilepsy is most common in dogs aged 1-5—the brain simply has a lower threshold for seizure activity. Structural epilepsy results from brain problems like tumors or infections. Reactive seizures are caused by issues outside the brain, such as low blood sugar or toxins.
Max’s symptoms—loss of consciousness, leg paddling, and post-seizure confusion—describe a typical generalized seizure. The disorientation afterward is normal and called the “postictal phase.”
Anti-seizure medications don’t cure epilepsy but the goal is to reduce seizure frequency and severity by raising the brain’s seizure threshold. Success means reducing seizures by 50% or more, but this can look different for every patient. Keep a seizure diary noting dates and number of seizures when they do occur. These logs are reviewed at rechecks and are vital in adjusting medical regimens long-term.
If Max has another seizure, stay calm and keep him safe. Move furniture away, don’t put anything in his mouth, and time the episode. Speak softly and avoid touching him until he’s fully alert—he may be confused and could accidentally bite. Most seizures stop on their own within 1-2 minutes. Seek emergency care if seizures last longer than 5 minutes, occur 3 or more times in 24 hours, or if Max doesn’t recover normally between episodes. Single seizures under five minutes rarely cause permanent damage. With proper monitoring and medication, Max can continue enjoying life as your loving companion.
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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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Seven Days shall not be held liable to any advertiser for any loss that results from the incorrect publication of its advertisement. If a mistake is ours, and the advertising purpose has been rendered valueless, Seven Days may cancel the charges for the advertisement, or a portion thereof as deemed reasonable by the publisher. Seven Days reserves the right to refuse any advertising, including inserts, at the discretion of the publishers.
That is the quiet, enduring power of a paper like this one. Its relevance — its heartbeat. At some point, most of us have been part of Seven Days. A letter to the editor. A business profile. A restaurant review. A photo from an event. A neighbor’s obituary. An opinion column. A story we couldn’t stop fretting about or laughing about. A story that brought us to a new restaurant, nature getaway, new town, new province.
In a state that has seen more than 200 newspapers come and go, Seven Days has not only lasted — it has thrived. It has shaped our civic life and deepened our local culture, week after week, for 30 years.
I am proud of our alternative weekly and grateful to all who have made it possible — from the founders to the interns, from the editors to the delivery drivers, from the contributors to the community that reads, supports and shares it. Even the advertisers step up their game with creative and unique Vermont-style ways to reach out to us.
Happy anniversary to Seven Days and, most importantly, the people whom we know by name and who come to us to hear our stories. Here’s to 30 years of independent journalism — and to many more.
What do you say about 30 years of Seven Days?
Bernie Paquette JERICHO
AGE DOES NOT EXPLAIN IT
In last week’s Ways and Means article [“Legislation, STAT!,” September 3], it is stated that the chief factor behind Vermont’s very high health care premiums is the state’s aging population. The percentage of the population over 65 is nearly the same in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Yet average health insurance premiums in Vermont are close
to twice those in Maine and almost three times those in New Hampshire. Thus, it seems doubtful that Vermont’s aging population is the chief reason for our extortionate rates.
William Warren CORNWALL
It was appalling to read that one of the University of Vermont Medical Center’s cost-cutting measures will be to pause executive bonuses totaling $7 million to $10 million this year [“UVM Health Network Announces Layoffs as Part of Effort to Save $185 Million,” July 29, online]. Why not eliminate them altogether? What other UVM Medical Center employee groups receive that much? What will happen next year? Will UVM Medical Center cut services in order to reinstate the bonuses?
I don’t think consumers realize how much money is diverted to lining the pockets of people who are not providing any direct service to patients and, no doubt, already earn far above the average Vermont income with many additional perks. The same is true of health insurance executives’ bonuses. If you subscribe to a health insurance plan, try asking about the salaries, perks and bonuses that their executives receive. (I once read years ago of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont CEO receiving a million-dollar bonus!)
costs” they must pay exorbitant salaries and bonuses. Yet what about salaries and benefits for the people on the ground who save lives? And how about the many independent providers, such as I was for 25 years, who go for years without even a cost-of-living raise in insurance reimbursement rates, though insurance rates go up annually?
We all know there can be a lot of waste in the health care system, and these bonuses, though not a large percentage of the overall UVM Medical Center target of $300 million, seem to me to be part of the waste!
Luanne Sberna BURLINGTON
Thank you for the article on Marc Estrin [“Author and Activist Marc Estrin Dies at 86,” August 12]. An example of Marc’s creative genius in the world of social justice was a trifold pamphlet that he produced entitled “What If Israel Invaded Vermont?” This pamphlet is familiar to many Vermonters, as it is a popular handout for those working on the apartheidfree campaign throughout the state. Using his creative writing and graphic skills, Marc attempted to show how Palestinians are forced to live on a daily basis under a brutal occupation.
Main Street, Riverside Avenue, Route 7 and 189 checkpoints … Life is hard in occupied Burlington. More than 400 homes have been bulldozed … Burlingtonians out-of-city will not be allowed to return to their homes … Running water and electric power are limited to 3 hours/day … The Peace & Justice Center has been shut down, its staff arrested” … and so forth.
Following his presentation of life in Burlington under occupation, he closes with: “An unimaginable dystopian fantasy for us, but a compendium of real daily experience for Palestinians, with all mechanics and ammunition funded by US tax dollars. Is this really how we want to spend our money and our moral and political capital?”
Thank you, Marc. RIP.
John Heermans ESSEX JUNCTION
[Re “ICE Detains Lumberyard Workers in Targeted Raid,” August 4, online]: For what it’s worth, I’ve known the owner of Lamell Lumber, Ron Lamell Jr., and his father before him, for several decades, and I truly believe you will not find a businessman more dedicated to being a good citizen as well as a good businessman. I have found him to be honest to the highest degree and would greatly put more trust in his word than that of any Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent!
David Keenan ESSEX
[Re “Dead-icated: It’s Been 30 Years Since the Grateful Dead’s Demise. But for Fans and Tribute Bands in Vermont, the Music Never Stopped,” August 6]: I’m relatively new to the Grateful Dead shows. My first concert, in fall 1973, was
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Cornerstone Drive, Williston, VT
Hello, we are Tim & Kristen.
We have been operating Halverson’s Upstreet Cafe since 1979, three years before Church Street became the Marketplace.
We have been running EB Strong’s Steakhouse since 2012.
We are so optimistic about the future of Church Street that we are increasing our seating capacity at EB Strong’s by 30%.
We love doing business on Church Street. We love the vibe and being part of one of the most successful walking malls in the country, in one of the most beautiful small cities in the world.
Come on down and enjoy yourself. Bring your friends. We’ll be here waiting for you!
THE FLYNN WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR VALUED SPONSORS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY. BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPORT, FREE PROGRAMS LIKE CUBO ARE POSSIBLE, FOSTERING A MORE CREATIVE AND CONNECTED VERMONT.
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SEPT. 13 & 14
PERFORMANCES AT 1 PM & 6 PM
STATE HOUSE LAWN, MONTPELIER
Hope Rises from ‘the Pit’
e housing and hotel project formerly known as CityPlace is finally opening — but in a very different Burlington Christian School Can Compete While Suit Plays Out
Big Problem for Small Businesses
Tariffs are threatening some of the companies that call Vermont home. Here’s how four are trying to survive.
Vermont Receives Disputed EV Funds
Shelburne Cop Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge in Fatal Crash
FOOD+ DRINK 42
The Rice Time
Vermont Sake launches
In Play
MJs
COLUMNS
After 31 years, grit, devotion and generosity keep the curtain rising at Vermont Stage
Full House
Northern Stage opens new housing for staff and visiting artists in White River Junction
ARTS+CULTURE 48
A Balancing Act
e inaugural Vermont Circus Festival looks to entertain and uplift in Brattleboro
Resistance Is Fertile
e People’s Project, a new anthology of essays, poetry and visual art, offers a practical guide to surviving fascism
If It Ain’t Baroque
e Burlington Baroque Festival returns for its second year
Not All Those Who Wander
Book review: Not Till We Are Lost: oreau, Education, and Climate Crisis, William Homestead
Jingle, All the Way
Indigenous artists explore sound at Shelburne Museum
Catamount Arts
Showcases Artists’ Practice in Two Ways
I’ve worked at The Optical Center for 20 years —the last two as the owner of the business.
I couldn’t be happier. I love being downtown and being part of the Church Street Marketplace. I’m extremely positive about the future of this community and invite you to visit us soon.
Come on down, stroll around, get a bite to eat, bring your friends, and enjoy the vibe.
Friday, September 19th 4–7 PM
Preview over 300 pieces from Joseph Ribkoff’s best sellers, essential wardrobe, and signature event collections
Enjoy special order sizing from 2-22 Gift with purchase
Complimentary cocktails & refreshments
invites neighbors to a convivial
e University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum of Art Fall Open House in Burlington. President Marlene Tromp (not to be confused with another president) keynotes the reception with remarks to spark the season, while attendees sneak a peek at four brand-new exhibits, including “Kimono: Garment, Canvas, and Artistic Muse.”
SATURDAY 13 & SUNDAY 14
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … a giant floating cube? Direct from Italy, multidisciplinary arts group eVenti Verticali mounts above the Vermont Statehouse lawn in Montpelier. e breathtaking original work — performed on a massive suspended stage — merges dance, acrobatics and illusion for an aerial spectacle to end all spectacles.
CUBO high MUST DO THIS WEEK
Acclaimed comedy writers Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher host volume 11 of their live show the Found at Epsilon Spires in Brattleboro. e childhood friends — who have collected more than 14,000 VHS tapes — guide guests on a tour of their latest and greatest finds, including two homemade videos of Bigfoot. (Warning: Expect
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 77
He’s been bad to the bone for more than half a century, but shows no sign of letting up or slowing down. e hard-rocking music legend and his formidable band the Destroyers bring the “Baddest Show on Earth” tour to the Paramount eatre in Rutland, beckoning local listeners to cut loose, go wild and “feel like a teenager” again, according to the man himself.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 80
FRIDAY 12
Perennial favorites Sophie Shao & Friends return to Middlebury’s Mahaney Arts Center to kick-start the college’s 106th performance season. e virtuosic cellist joins forces with violinist Carmit Zori and pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute for a scintillating program of chamber works — made even more special by the Vermont premiere of Elena Ruehr’s Cello Sonata No. 2.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 75
SATURDAY 13
Look out, Hollywood — Vermont has celebrities, too! Dancing With the Burlington Stars pairs beloved locals with industry professionals for 17 weeks of choreography and rehearsals, culminating in a friendly competition for the title on the Flynn Main Stage. Contenders get their bodies moving to raise funds for the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 76
SATURDAY 13
Yankee
Is there anything more quaint than an autumnal affair in the town that Norman Rockwell once called St. James Episcopal Church in Arlington Norman’s Attic Fall Fest for its 27th year of community-driven delights. Hailed as a “Top 20 Vermont Event” by magazine, the fête boasts homemade baked goods, live entertainment, and dozens of antique and craft vendors.
Readers are still working their way through last week’s blockbuster 30th Birthday Issue. They’ve stopped me on the street, at the gym, in the grocery store and during Burlington’s South End Art Hop to express their appreciation for the 120-page retrospective.
The feedback is a relief. While planning the issue, we worried about the enormity of the timeline that runs through most of the paper, as well as the 30 standout stories from the past that took up 10 pages. Would the combination amount to too much navel-gazing? Apparently not.
Dan Gottlieb, a reader from South Strafford who made a generous donation last week, explained that the “straw that broke the camel’s back” was the realization that “I had read, and largely remembered, the vast majority of the major articles from 20-plus years covered in this week’s paper! If that’s not evidence that you’re influencing me and providing value, I’m not sure what is.”
Michael Wood-Lewis of Front Porch Forum emailed: “I studied the timeline closely and marked it up with milestones of my own — 1997 started reading 7D, 1999 fatherhood, 2000 Five Sisters Forum launch, etc. Loved to cross-reference with VT and 7D milestones. You all did a great job in this issue of making it plain just how unusually lucky BTV and VT are to have 7D. I couldn’t agree more!”
We were surprised and delighted to see that Wood-Lewis inserted a “happy birthday” message to Seven Days in every Friday forum — hopefully motivating new readers to seek out the paper. Rob Gurwitt of Norwich also gave us a shout-out from the other side of the state in his witty and wise Daybreak newsletter.
Deputy publisher Cathy Resmer and I went on Vermont Public’s “Vermont Edition,” and host Mikaela Lefrak described Seven Days better than either of us ever could on live radio. On WCAX-TV, Darren Perron was the benevolent inquisitor for a short bit on the nightly news and a longer piece for the Sunday show “You Can Quote Me.” He had dug up the station’s story on the paper’s launch 30 years ago, which includes footage of a more hirsute and better-toned version of yours truly delivering the inaugural issue to local retailers.
At the end of the segment, Perron noted that the birth of Seven Days was one of the first stories he reported as a Vermont journalist, then working for his hometown newspaper, the Barton Chronicle. In fact, that’s the point we were trying to make with last week’s epic paper: Seven Days’ history belongs to all of us.
My only regret is that we didn’t have a community party and reunion like the one we threw when Seven Days turned 20. That’s in part because, at the beginning of the summer, we learned that the company behind Foundation, our website publishing platform, was going out of business. We knew the transition to a new content management system — migrating 30 years of local journalism, more than 66,000 articles — would be happening at the same time as our birthday. We launched the new site on August 28.
That impacted everyone at Seven Days but weighed heaviest on the shoulders of our intrepid creative director, Don Eggert. In addition to overseeing the graphic design of the paper, he’s in charge of digital products, marketing and high-level event planning.
So, we fell back on an age-old solution: celebration by association, taking advantage of the coincidence of our birthday and Art Hop, the biggest party in Burlington. Seven Days also produced the event guide that was smackdab in the middle of last week’s Birthday Issue.
On Friday, while it was still light out, my partner, Tim, and I strolled down Pine Street and took in the scene. We started in Steve Conant’s whimsical and inspiring Soda Plant, where we caught the Hokum Bros. starting their set at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge and visited mother-daughter painters Katharine Montstream and Charlotte Dworshak in their shared studio.
Noting that the South End Get Down was already packed with people, we explored the funky Pine Street Studios and the Howard Space. In Sterling Furniture Works, we found our friend and author Tim Brookes showing off his latest creations: unique woodworks engraved with letters from the endangered alphabets he has been studying.
We joined revelers at the Lamp Shop and could have stayed there all night — owners Liz Segal and Andy Arp know how to put on a party. Instead, we bought Venezuelan arepas from a food truck owned by one of Tim’s soccer buddies and sat on the stairs to Mascoma Bank taking it all in, from Sambatucada to the STRUT! Fashion Show. I derived some satisfaction from the realization that, over the years, we have written about almost every organizer, participant and venue involved in this event.
Vermont’s creative sector is what prompted us to start the paper in the first place, and it made me feel hopeful to see a diversity of people — young and old, friends and families, urban and suburban — soaking it up, just as in 1995. We continue to cover it all; this week’s issue is our 31st Performing Arts Preview.
As we sat and watched the Pine Street spectacle, an almost-full moon made its entrance from behind the clouds above Speeder & Earl’s. For one enchanted evening, everything seemed right in the world. That was celebration enough.
Paula Routly
I LOOK FORWARD EVERY WEEK TO THE NEW ISSUE OF SEVEN DAYS ALWAYS INTERESTING STORIES AND TOPICS THAT THEY INVESTIGATE. IT KEEPS ME UP TO DATE ON CURRENT EVENTS AS WELL. I DONATE TO SEVEN DAYS BECAUSE I WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF SEVEN DAYS NO LONGER EXISTED.
– Lynn Witter, Burlington
SUPER READER SINCE FEBRUARY 2023
Welcome, new Super Readers!
ese wonderful people made their first donation to Seven Days this week:
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& Henry Venable
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e housing and hotel project formerly known as CityPlace is finally opening — but in a very different Burlington
STORY & PHOTOS BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com
In November 2014, a smooth-talking New York City businessman announced plans to transform Burlington’s aging downtown mall into high-rise apartment buildings with shops and a rooftop park. Don Sinex called his vision “CityPlace Burlington” and said it would revitalize downtown.
Sinex tore down the old mall but then stopped building altogether, leaving behind a stagnant construction site that locals nicknamed “the Pit.” It took five years and an entirely new development team to get work started again.
Next month, a portion of the redesigned CityPlace will finally open with a
new name: Burlington Square. Its hotel rooms and apartments are going for top dollar, prices that the developers say befit a luxury high-rise.
But the opening comes at a much more challenging time than when the massive project was first planned. Those who can a ord to live and stay there will find themselves in a downtown core that is struggling with a rise in property crime, open drug use and homelessness — problems that have hurt businesses and driven away some visitors who once filled city streets.
In a way, then, the success of Burlington Square could be a barometer for whether Vermont’s largest city can overcome its tarnished reputation.
BY ALISON NOVAK alison@sevendaysvt.com
A federal court ruled on Tuesday that Mid Vermont Christian School should be allowed to play interscholastic sports — more than two years after the Quechee academy was banned from competition for forfeiting a game against a team with a transgender player.
e U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s ruling overturns a lower court decision from last year that prohibited the school from competing while a lawsuit it filed plays out in court. e school has been banned from all activities overseen by the Vermont Principals’ Association, which governs school sports, since March 2023.
e original lawsuit, brought in November 2023 by high-profile conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, alleges that the Vermont Principals’ Association, as well as state and school district officials, discriminated against the pre-K-through-12 private Christian school because of its religious beliefs. Ryan Tucker, the organization’s senior counsel, characterized the Vermont Principals’ Association’s decision as a “blatant act of discrimination and hostility.”
In June 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford denied the school’s request for a preliminary injunction, which would have allowed it to compete while the case proceeded. Crawford wrote that Mid Vermont’s expulsion was “not motivated by animus against their religious beliefs” but because the school violated state policy that allows transgender students to participate on the team of their choice.
The developers and city o cials seem confident the building is a step in the right direction. They see the project as the first sign of new life in an area that’s ripe for redevelopment.
“This space wasn’t a space that the public could enter or even walk through or past,” said Kara Alnasrawi, director of the city’s Community & Economic Development O ce. Opening it back up, she said, “just adds to more vitality.”
Situated just off the Church Street Marketplace, Burlington Square will consist of two buildings with a combined 350-plus apartments, 342 hotel rooms and 42,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the appellate court overturned Crawford’s decision writing that the plaintiffs “are likely to succeed in showing that the [Vermont Principals’ Association’s] expulsion of Mid Vermont was not neutral because it displayed hostility toward the school’s religious beliefs” and thus violated the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“ ere is a strong public interest in ensuring that students and schools do not lose out on valuable athletic opportunities by virtue of the government’s hostility to religion,” the decision says. e ruling grants Mid Vermont Christian’s request for “reinstatement to full membership in the VPA pending the resolution of this case.” ➆
Tariffs are threatening some of the companies that call Vermont home. Here’s how four are trying to survive.
BY DEREK BROUWER • derek@sevendaysvt.com
Small businesses make up the backbone of Vermont’s economy — and its reputation for artisanal products and craftsmanship. But most are also participants in a global economy that has been quaking from the tectonic shifts caused by President Donald Trump’s tariff regimen.
These smaller enterprises lack the resources to absorb increased costs and the scale needed to negotiate with suppliers, making them particularly susceptible to financial upheaval from tariffs.
One has taken on Trump’s tariffs directly. Terry Precision Cycling, a Burlington-based maker of women’s cycling apparel, was one of five American companies to challenge the legal basis for Trump’s tariffs in court. Terry and its coplaintiffs have won twice, most recently on August 29, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held in a 7-4 ruling that Congress, not the president, has the power to authorize most of the tariffs that Trump imposed on April 2. Trump has appealed the matter to the
U.S. Supreme Court, adding even more uncertainty to what has already been a hectic year for Vermont businesses.
While the legal question is pending, companies have been strategizing in order to survive. Here’s how four — three small businesses and one iconic one — have responded so far.
Water bottle startup, Richmond
Carina Hamel has been thinking about Europe a lot lately. If the trade war between the U.S. and China continues for much longer, the future of her Richmond startup company could depend on the market across the pond.
Hamel and her husband, Robby Ringer, run Bivo, which sells specialty stainless-steel water bottles for cyclists and others who need a chuggable vessel but want an alternative to plastic. With a slick design and polished marketing,
Robert bought Leunig's Bistro in 1997 and ran it with Bob for many years. Together, they took the restaurant to the next level!
"We had a wonderful experience working together because we both understood the importance of pleasing our staff and our guests, a win-win for everyone.” In 2013, Robert sold it to Bob and then Chef Donnell Collins. Now under the direction of Amy Berndardt, the tradition of Leunig's continues to this day. We are very proud of our contribution to the downtown Burlington experience. Come on down anytime and see for yourself. Amy and her dedicated staff are here waiting for you. Hope to see you soon.
BY KEVIN MCCALLUM kevin@sevendaysvt.com
Vermont will receive all of the federal funding for electric vehicle chargers that it was promised before the Trump administration paused the program in January.
Gov. Phil Scott announced last Thursday the release of the remaining $15.8 million that the Federal Highway Administration had promised for the installation of charging stations along Vermont highways.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program had approved $16.7 million for the state before President Donald Trump issued an executive order freezing the funds until new guidelines were drafted.
Once those new rules were in place, the state edited and resubmitted its application and the remaining funds were disbursed a few weeks later, Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn told Seven Days
“At the end of the day, the money has been released,” Flynn said. “I’m grateful that this has landed the way it did.”
The funds became a flash point over the summer because Flynn and Scott chose not to cooperate with a federal lawsuit challenging the freeze after Attorney General Charity Clark had joined it in May.
The distribution of the remaining funds means the state can move forward with 11 fast-charging locations providing about 60 charging ports along state and federal highway corridors. The locations will be in Randolph, Wilmington, Rutland, St. Albans, Bennington, Middlebury, White River Junction, Brattleboro, Berlin, Manchester and South Burlington.
Flynn said he hopes the funds are sufficient to complete all 11 sites, but he worries that the Trump administration’s plan to require 100 percent Americanmade components in the future could upend those efforts. Currently the projects operate under rules that require 55 percent American-made products, he said.
“This is good for Vermont, especially for people who drive EVs and all of us who look to be more accommodating to visitors to Vermont who drive EVs,” Flynn said. ➆
Bivo has found a niche across its five-year history. But Bivo bottles are manufactured in China, and there is no cost-effective way to make them in the U.S. So Hamel and Ringer have been racing to contend with the potentially crippling cost of tariffs.
Depending on the constantly shifting state of diplomacy, the trade war has increased Bivo’s manufacturing costs anywhere from 25 to 145 percent. Right now, the import tax is on the low end, adding a couple of dollars to the roughly $8-perbottle cost that Bivo pays a Chinese factory.
While Bivo can reimburse its manufacturer over time, it must pay import duties upon shipment. Tariff bills in the tens of thousands of dollars can create a major cash-flow problem for small businesses such as Bivo, which has just eight employees, threatening to grind its market momentum to a halt.
Hence Europe. Since the spring, Hamel has sought ways to store and sell Bivo bottles overseas in order to avoid the steep U.S. tariffs altogether. She’s increased the number of retail partners in Europe from 30 to 75, including the largest online merchant in Germany. Bivo has also secured warehouse space in the Netherlands, where finished bottles will be shipped directly from China, sans U.S. tariffs.
It’s a difficult change in strategy for the startup. Europe has a large cycling market, but until this year, Bivo had focused primarily on American consumers because the company lacked the capital needed to drum up business on a second continent, Hamel said.
“Since April, we’ve shifted that mindset,” she said.
The New York Times profiled Bivo’s pivot to Europe in a story about tariffs in May. As summer turns to fall, Bivo’s European business is still getting off the ground. The company is “just about” to ship its first bottles from the Chinese factory to the new Netherlands warehouse, Hamel said. Bivo’s direct-to-European consumer website is due to launch next month. Hamel traveled to Frankfurt in June to make connections at the Eurobike convention, which yielded a distribution contract in the United Kingdom.
“We’re making positive inroads,” Hamel said.
Meanwhile, Bivo is earning thinner margins on its U.S. sales. Hamel and Ringer have chosen not to increase prices, which, at $39 to $49 per bottle, are already more expensive than those made by the company’s only direct competitor, CamelBak.
That may need to change if the trade war drags on. Tariffs on imports from
China are set to jump back to 145 percent in November unless Trump and China make a deal.
“The biggest thing for us has been the inconsistencies and the inability to really plan,” Hamel said.
Shipping services, Richford When Trump imposed tariffs on Canada in the spring, the country responded by slapping retaliatory levies on a broad array of American goods. At Pinnacle Parcels, a shipping office in Richford, business dropped by 75 percent overnight.
Pinnacle Parcels functions as a kind of PO box for Canadian consumers. It allows them to order American products and, for a few bucks, have them shipped to Pinnacle Parcels, where owner Ricky Hoy stores the goods until his clients drive across the border to retrieve them. The arrangement allows Canadian consumers to take advan-
ALL OF MY BUSINESS IS INTERNATIONAL WITH CANADA.
tage of cheaper prices for certain products, such as car parts, or to buy things that otherwise aren’t available locally.
“All of my business is international with Canada,” Hoy said.
The company, which Hoy purchased in 2019, had already been pummeled in recent years. Cross-border travel was halted during the pandemic and was slow to recover. The flagging Canadian dollar meant customers who used Hoy’s service were saving less than they had before. Then Trump came to power and used inflammatory language about Canada that inspired many of its residents to boycott U.S. businesses.
Tariffs delivered something close to a knockout blow. Canada’s retaliatory import duties meant its residents who picked up their goods at Pinnacle would have to pay tariffs at the border on their way home. The Canadian counter-tariffs were even more sweeping than those Trump had imposed.
“It just doesn’t make sense” for Canadian residents to buy in the U.S. now, Hoy said last month.
Business has increased somewhat from its nadir in April, Hoy said, but he anticipates his annual revenue will be down 45 percent. Hoy, who runs the business with the help of one part-time employee, has increased his fees to offset his losses. He took his first paycheck of the year in June.
If the trade war with Canada “lasts our president’s full term, I may go out of business,” Hoy said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in late August that he was dropping most of the retaliatory tariffs to match the broad exemptions included in the U.S. duties. In theory, the change should lead to more business for Pinnacle Parcels. But the U.S. and Canada have yet to reach a formal trade agreement. Negotiations are ongoing.
Mail, web and brick-and-mortar retailer, Manchester
The Vermont Country Store’s fall catalog landed in mailboxes last week, showcasing a panoply of pastoral goods to living rooms across the country. But the expansive offering — what a Washington Post fashion critic recently dubbed “the Madison Avenue of plaid curtains and gingham napkins” — does not reflect the full effect of global tariffs.
“This is the lull before the storm,” CEO Jim Hall said.
The nearly 80-year-old company, headquartered in Manchester with retail stores in Weston and Rockingham, is an emporium of creature comforts from across the globe. The Vermont Country Store sells Irish wool sweaters, Belgian chocolates, Portuguese flannel and artificial Christmas trees from China.
Hall, who stepped back to a reduced role this week as part of a planned retirement, spent much of his last year at the helm of the family-owned company trying to navigate fast-changing trade policies that touched nearly every page of its catalog.
A larger company with national reach, Vermont Country Store was able to stockpile some imported products before Trump enacted his most sweeping tariffs. Once the tariffs kicked in, the company asked suppliers to hold onto inventory for a while, expecting the duties would drop.
“When he knocked the tariffs down to 10 percent, we thought that was a pretty good deal — it was only going to get worse from there,” Hall said.
So the fall catalog includes a mix of products for which the company paid low or no tariffs. That has allowed the Vermont Country Store, like other larger retailers, to avoid raising prices across the board.
Instead, the company is playing a game of chicken with its many national competitors.
“You don’t want to be the first one to say, ‘I’m going to add 10 bucks to the cost of this thing because of the tariffs,’” Hall said. “Because we have un-tariffed inventory that is mixed with the tariff inventory, we have the ability to do this gradually.”
Hall expects consumers will begin to feel the full effects of Trump’s trade policy in the last few months of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, once the stockpiling and wait-and-see strategies have played out.
The outgoing CEO, who also serves as chair of the American Commerce Marketing Association, said he agrees that tariffs can be a useful way to encourage domestic production of vital equipment. But the Vermont Country Store’s products include seasonal décor, for which local manufacturing is not a matter of national security.
“Do they realize this is a tax on Christmas?” Hall said.
Children’s apparel distributor, Jericho To make extra money, Danielle Botto, a 30-year-old single mother and professional nanny, works as the U.S. distributor for a children’s wool apparel producer based in Finland. It’s a gig she hustled to get; Botto contacted the firm, ManyMonths, in 2021 and pitched them on the idea of expanding to the U.S.
She’s grown her sales by an average of 40 percent each year, distributing to mom-and-pop shops and selling a small portion of ManyMonths clothes through her own website, Wee Seedling.
This year, Botto will be lucky if she earns a dime.
of Wee Seedling with her daughter, Ember
The clothes she distributes are sewn at a “Scandinavian-owned” factory in China that pays premium wages and benefits and offers reasonable work hours. Everything is made to order, which means Botto must work with her retail partners each winter to secure the next season’s merchandise.
Botto ordered roughly $30,000 worth of ManyMonths leggings, cardigans, leg warmers and other performance wool products before tariffs took effect. By the time the factory in China was ready to ship, Botto faced an additional 37 percent import tax.
The tariff wiped out her anticipated $8,000 profit margin — plus several thousand dollars more.
Botto has decided to take the hit herself in hopes that tariffs will be a passing policy fever. ManyMonths clothes, which are designed to last through several years of a child’s growth, already sell at the very high end of what most American consumers will pay. She also doesn’t want to risk her relationships with the small retailers who stock her products by trying to pass on the after-the-fact costs to them.
If tariffs on China decreased to 10 or even 15 percent by the time she places next season’s order, Botto thinks she can make it work, perhaps by raising prices. Anything higher, she said, “would make our product kind of unreachable for the United States market, for the people who would buy what this is.” ➆
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Once complete, the project will create an entirely new city block by rebuilding portions of St. Paul and Pine streets that were severed from the city grid by the former mall.
In late August, the worksite was buzzing with activity. At the nearlyfinished South Tower on Bank Street, workers were laying carpet, hanging cabinets and finishing electrical work in the well-appointed apartments. The first batch, on the eighth floor, will open on October 1, with all 53 available by year’s end.
So far, just one person has signed up for an apartment, and only one tenant has leased retail space on the ground floor.
Downstairs, managers at the AC Marriott hotel were making final hires ahead of an intensive, 10-day staff training — the final push before a planned September 18 opening. In the hotel lounge, staff were stocking a generous breakfast bar and eagerly awaiting the delivery of an imported German meat slicer. One of the project owners, Dave Farrington, was making parking arrangements for busloads of tourists.
“Fall is just busier, beautiful and busier,” he said, assuring two hotel managers that guests would come flocking.
“Oh, yes, Dave mentioned the leaf lovers,” one of the managers said, then quickly corrected himself: “Leaf peepers!”
Farrington joined the project team in 2020, along with fellow businessmen Al Senecal of Omega Electric and Scott Ireland of S.D. Ireland. The trio eventually bought out Sinex’s shares and brought on Giri Hotel Management, which owns 55 hotels in five states, to operate both the AC franchise and the Cambria hotel slated for the North Tower. Now just a steel frame, that building will ultimately host more than 300 apartments, including some reserved for student housing, when it opens in spring 2027. The entire site, including the remade roads, is slated for completion in summer 2027.
The redevelopment project is surrounded by potential others. On nearby Pine Street, crews are demolishing the former Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in preparation for sale. Next door, on Cherry Street, a former state office building is under contract to an undisclosed buyer.
There’s also the second phase of CityPlace, a planned redevelopment of the former L.L.Bean store and what remains of the mall, a storefront that faces the Marketplace. Sinex, who still owns a
majority share of that venture, has gotten permits to build two apartment buildings there, one three stories and the other five. He told Seven Days last month that he intends to redesign the project to make the tallest building 12 stories.
Burlington Square has set a high bar for whatever follows. The apartments have top-of-the-line features: stainlesssteel appliances, blue tile backsplashes and vinyl plank flooring in blond wood tones. Most units have glass-walled
Burlington Square will be one of them. Rents range from $1,950 per month for a studio to $6,800 per month for a two-bed, two-bath unit on the top floor. Parking and utilities, which include central airconditioning, cost extra.
By city ordinance, up to a quarter of new units in buildings with five or more apartments must be priced for lowerincome tenants. But the South Tower has none; instead, between 75 and 80 units will be built at the North Tower. A development agreement with the city requires the units to be open by June 2026, but Farrington plans to ask for an extension.
Farrington says the high rents partly reflect the cost of construction. Tariffs on European goods pushed the price of windows from $2 million to $2.2 million. Those on Canadian steel, which was used to frame the towers, added $1 million to the project budget, he said.
balconies, and those on the top floors have sizable terraces that provide unobstructed views of the city skyline or Lake Champlain, depending on their location. A rooftop pizza oven will be available for every tenant’s use.
During the city’s annual 3rd of July celebration, “those terraces will be packed with tenants,” Farrington said.
Rents for most new studio apartments in Chittenden County are priced between $1,550 to $1,950 per month, according to data from Allen, Brooks & Minor, a South Burlington real estate appraisal and analytics firm. Most newly built twobedrooms are going for $2,300 to $2,800 per month, the report says. But there are outliers, namely those offering better views and more amenities.
Using premium materials, such as solid marble for countertops, also justifies higher rents, said Laura Wilson, vice president of property and asset management at S.D. Ireland, which is managing the rentals.
“We build a higher quality, and I would say that this property, it’s just in that tier,” she said.
Neither Alnasrawi, the CEDO director, nor Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak would comment directly on the rents at Burlington Square. Rather, they emphasized that leases are private agreements between landlords and tenants.
In a statement, Mulvaney-Stanak said her office is working on boosting affordable housing in the city, including by partnering with private developers to redevelop a neighborhood in the South End and the area around the
Memorial Auditorium on Main Street.
Specific plans for both projects, including apartment counts, haven’t been announced.
Wilson acknowledged that Burlington Square’s rents are high for some. But she also isn’t concerned about driving away potential tenants, or that only one person to date has shown real interest. Without final city permits — or a firm completion date for the upper-floor units — S.D. Ireland hasn’t offered formal leases, only paperwork for tenants interested in signing one. The company also hasn’t launched a marketing campaign, which Wilson said will highlight the convenience of downtown living.
Location is typically a hot selling point, but in Burlington’s case, it could be a hurdle. Homelessness and open drug use are ever-present in the downtown, and recent violent incidents prompted city councilors to order up a larger police presence, particularly in City Hall Park.
At Burlington Square, people were trespassing in the building’s first-floor lobby before more secure locks were installed. A brand-new sculpture at the building’s Bank Street entrance was tagged with spray paint within a few days of being installed.
“It’s definitely a different beast that we’re trying to navigate,” said Alyssa Buckley Couture, S.D. Ireland’s director of marketing.
City officials, however, say redeveloping a section of downtown can only help draw more people there. Besides the hotel lounge, the South Tower has restrooms, meeting spaces and a terrace that will be open to the general public. Some community groups have already expressed interest in meeting there.
A café on the ground floor could also be a draw. Jitters, a Massachusetts-based company started by three University of Vermont graduates, will serve breakfast sandwiches, paninis and salads. Scheduled to serve until midnight, the hotel lounge will be one of few late-night dining options in the city.
Farrington, who owns other commercial properties downtown, knows that the area’s reputation has taken a hit. His tenants along construction-burdened Main Street, for instance, are particularly struggling. But he’s not concerned about filling leases, for either apartments or businesses. The hotel’s opening — and, he says, there are already reservations on the books — is likely to pique public interest.
“We wouldn’t be building it if we didn’t think people want to live here,” he said. “What’s happening down here — it’s the synergy. It’s gonna grow.” ➆
BY DEREK BROUWER derek@sevendaysvt.com
A Shelburne police sergeant who fatally struck a bicyclist with his cruiser while on duty last year will avoid prison time after taking a plea deal that involves a reduced charge.
Kyle Kapitanski, 42, pleaded guilty last Thursday to negligent operation of a vehicle with death resulting in exchange for a sentence that includes two years of probation and a requirement to complete a restorative justice process. He could spend up to 12 months behind bars if he fails to comply.
It was 2:30 a.m. in November 2024 when Kapitanski struck Sean Hayes at 40 to 45 mph. Hayes, who was towing a trailer with his bicycle, had pulled to the curb to examine his equipment. The officer told first responders that the cyclist had appeared “out of nowhere,” a Vermont State Police investigator wrote in an affidavit.
Kyle Kapitanski
Investigators also determined that Kapitanski was playing YouTube videos on a laptop at the time of the crash. Prosecutors with the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office, which filed the initial felony charge, said the presence of the YouTube video in the driver’s line of sight, coupled with the fact that Kapitanski was driving five to 10 miles above the 35 mph speed limit, amounted to gross negligence. State prosecutors initially charged Kapitanski with grossly negligent driving, a felony that carries a potential 15-year prison sentence.
At last Thursday’s hearing, attorney Matthew Dolezal, a state traffic safety resource prosecutor, emphasized a potential weakness in the state’s case. A Vermont State Police crash reconstruction expert had concluded that, given the circumstances of the wreck, anyone who was driving 40 to 45 miles per hour would have collided with Hayes.
In other words, the state could have had trouble demonstrating that Kapitanski’s decision to stream YouTube while driving was the reason he killed Hayes.
Kapitanski, who had been on administrative leave since the crash, did not make a statement during the hearing and declined comment afterward. ➆
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at Boston’s Music Hall, where, upon exiting, we were clubbed like baby seals by cops on horseback, as some rowdies had trashed the entrance. I saw my last show in 1992, I think; I’ll have to check my stubs.
I really enjoy the cover bands and was impressed by the Dark Star Orchestra’s shows up here at Jay Peak but could not stand the crowd’s constant sing-along, like that old Mitch Miller TV show where one “followed the bouncing ball” on the screen’s lyrics. It ruined the whole experience for me.
Why not sit back and enjoy the music?
Steve Merrill NORTH TROY
[Re “Activists Urge Burlington to Block ICE From Using Airport,” August 6, online]: Democracy is not a spectator sport in which we watch two teams competing to score a goal. Rather, it is a participatory endeavor that requires action. Let me make an analogy to soccer, as I was a player and coach in that game.
In the game of soccer, there are essentially four position groups: forwards, midfielders, fullbacks and goalie. These groupings could be compared to those in resistance groups: thought leaders, organizers, rally attendees, lawyers and the courts. The main difference here is that in soccer these groups are a finite number, and in the resistance these groups need to be continuously growing. We need to build the democracy team with as many folks as possible. The authoritarian team is moving fast, and each of us needs to claim a position in the democracy team and act now. Time is running out!
From the position of forward, I am asking you to write to your state legislator and ask them to enforce the rule of law against the abductions of people without due process. Ask them to deploy state personnel to Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport to ensure that no one is transported illegally to some gulag outside the jurisdiction of our state. Convince them that defiance of tyrannical abuse of power is the only solution to prevent the dissolution of the U.S. Constitution and democracy in our country.
When we say “God Bless America,” remember that “God helps those that help themselves.”
Chuck
DeRusso
MONTPELIER
[Re “State Workers Ordered Back to the Office,” August 28]: Gov. Phil Scott’s new return-to-office policy will force many hardworking Vermonters out of their jobs just weeks before the holidays and will cripple the state government’s ability to function.
Many state workers were hired during the pandemic and live in rural parts of Vermont. Remote work has allowed them to serve state government, bring rural perspectives to their work, and return income to local communities and small businesses. The new RTO policy is effectively a forced resignation for workers who would be required to commute many hours from across the state to Montpelier and other state hubs, reducing time for family and local community involvement, including volunteer first responders. There is no evidence that remote work reduces productivity. Studies, including surveys of the state’s own employees, show remote work improves performance, retention and morale. Remote work also helps attract talent to the state government, especially since state jobs often pay less than comparable privatesector positions. Other states that tried strict RTO policies, only to reverse course quickly, lost 30 to 40 percent of their workforce.
For taxpayers, this policy will slow state services, delay critical programs and legislative initiatives, and increase costs as positions go unfilled or new employees must be recruited and trained. Losing experienced staff will result in higher costs for taxpayers for lower quality of services that Vermonters rely on every day.
Gov. Scott has promised to make Vermont affordable and support working families. Respecting those commitments means reversing this RTO mandate.
— Nel Emlen, Calais
– Sheila Boland Chira, Burlington
– Sandy Short, Burlington
MAY 8, 1936-AUGUST 11, 2025
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Marion Elizabeth (Auld)
Metcalfe died peacefully on the afternoon of Monday, August 11, at her apartment in Cincinnati, Ohio, surrounded by her two children and two granddaughters. She was 89 years old.
Liz was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, the oldest of the four daughters of Maude and William Auld. She began to play the piano at a young age, taught at first by her mother, and her precocious talent soon bloomed. She won awards and competitions, played a concerto with the Toronto Symphony at age 12, and received an Artist’s Diploma from the Royal Conservatory
of Music as a teenager. She then attended Victoria College of the University of Toronto, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and French in 1958. While at Vic she met Bill Metcalfe — Liz was the pianist for productions of Gilbert and Sullivan; Bill, the conductor — and the two formed a lifelong partnership of love
APRIL 17, 1938-AUGUST 22, 2025
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT. AND FORT MYERS, FLA.
Barbara Berry Reed, 87, of Burlington, Vt., and Fort Myers, Fla., passed away peacefully on August 22, 2025, surrounded by family. Born on April 17, 1938, in Burlington, she was the beloved daughter of Alba (Fisher) and Leonard Berry.
Barbara attended the University of Vermont, where she met and later married the love of her life, the late Richard Rea Reed, on August 22, 1959. Together, they embarked on a lifetime of adventure and partnership.
While Richard attended dental school at McGill University in Montréal, Barbara taught English in Brossard, Québec, all while raising their young family.
Barbara and Richard welcomed their daughter Jane Dodson and later their sons, the late Timothy James Reed and the late Christopher James Reed. After time in Chicago and in Buffalo, N.Y., they returned to Burlington, where they joyfully welcomed their daughter Annie Spencer.
and music. ey were married just before graduation and soon set off for Minneapolis, where Bill studied for a doctorate in history. In 1963 the couple moved to Burlington, Vt., where Liz in due course joined Bill on the faculty of the University of Vermont, Liz in the Music Department. She also gave private piano lessons to generations of children and was a devoted and endlessly supportive teacher for students of any age. Liz was a cofounder of the University of Vermont Baroque Ensemble, with which she played harpsichord, and a longtime member of the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble. She concertized for 30 years with the New York Chamber Soloists and played with them on memorable tours in South America, France, Spain, and
Barbara’s joys in life included golfing with her husband and friends, tackling crossword puzzles, watching every game show she could, and beating anyone who was willing to play her in a card game of Spite and Malice. But nothing brought her more happiness than her role as “Tutie.” She adored her nine grandchildren, each of whom made her immensely proud.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Richard; her sons, Timothy and Christopher; her granddaughter Caitlin Reed Donohue; and her sister Allyn Hiel.
Barbara is survived by her daughters, Jane Dodson and Annie Reed Spencer (William), as well as her sister Linda Berry Kraus.
Barbara will be remembered for her warmth, wit and unwavering love for her family. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, strength and joy that will live on in all who knew her.
ere will be a private service with family this fall. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446.
the American Southwest and Pacific Coast; appeared with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra as both soloist and orchestral musician; and performed frequently in the Vermont Mozart Festival, which Bill cofounded and often conducted. e two also collaborated for 35 years to run the Oriana Singers and pursued their youthful delight in G&S with the Gilbert and Sullivan Singers of Vermont. Liz was elected a fellow of the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2010 and in 2015, together with Bill, was awarded the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, presented by the governor of Vermont and the Vermont Arts Council, in recognition of their many contributions to the artistic life of their beloved adopted home state.
JUNE 18, 1951JANUARY 21, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C.
John Edward Rowe of Durham, N.C. — beloved father, grandfather, brother and uncle — died tragically on January 21, 2025, at the age of 73. Following a long career as a family medicine doctor, John had recently retired and cherished the ability to devote more time to the things he loved: performing music (he was a lifelong cellist and vocalist and was active in the Durham Medical Orchestra and the Choral Society of Durham), political activism, gardening, traveling, and, above all, spending time with his adult children and grandchildren.
John was born on June 18, 1951, and grew up in Wells River, Vt., where his father ran the town’s medical clinic. He was the fourth of six siblings, who all remain close to this day. John graduated from Harvard University in 1973 and, following in his father’s footsteps, went on to receive his medical education from
Sunny and generous, gracious and cheerful, kind and ever ready with a beaming smile, Liz was a wonderful, loving mother and grandmother. She and Bill shared a love of travel — hers perhaps encouraged by a trip to New York City taken with her younger sister Jan around the age of 20, quite an adventure for a rather sheltered pair of young women at that time! — and they loved hosting and attending dinner parties — many shared with a group of friends dubbed the Wine Octet. Liz eventually became an American citizen but remained a proud Canadian her whole life. She was especially attached to the small town of Kincardine, Ontario, where the Auld family acquired a cottage on the shores of Lake Huron in the 1940s and where she
the University of Vermont before going back home to work at the Wells River Clinic. During his medical residency, he met and married Linda Rowe (née Pritz), with whom he enjoyed a marriage of more than 40 years and raised their four children. In the early 1990s, the family moved to Fairview, N.C., where John worked for 33 years at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) as both a physician and a mentor to numerous students and residents in training. Following Linda’s death in 2020, John relocated to Durham to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
spent many blissful summers playing on the beach, watching the horses run on the racetrack behind the cottage, and listening to Scottish pipe and drum bands on Saturday evenings.
After living in Vermont for 60 years, Liz moved to Cincinnati in January 2023 to be near her daughter and her family. She was preceded in passing by her husband, Bill, and her three younger sisters, Jan, Cathy and Susie. She is survived by her son, Scott Metcalfe, his wife, Emily Walhout, and their daughter, Anna Metcalfe; her daughter, Susan Speno, Sue’s husband, Andrew Speno, their children, Erin and Benjamin, and Erin’s husband, Brandon Stout; and her brother-in-law, Jack Hansen, his children, Joshua Hansen and Emily Smith, and their families.
John is survived by his children, Kate Rowe and her partner, Matt Hornaday; Lucas Rowe, his wife, Jenny ompson, and their children, Simon and Arden; and Edward Rowe, his wife, Megan Gray, and their children, Jacob and Eliza. He is also survived by his partner, Jill Rohner, and a large extended family of siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda Rowe, and his oldest daughter, Lauren Rowe.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, in North Carolina. A second service will be held at the Wells River Congregational Church (76 Main Street North) on Saturday, October 4, 2025, 11 a.m., followed by a reception on the lawn of Little Rivers Health Care at 65 Main Street. e community is invited to honor the life and service of Dr. John and that of his parents, Dr. Harry and Mrs. Mary Whitney Rowe, that continues in the expansive medical care provided by Little Rivers Health Care and the Whitney-Rowe Clinic.
JANUARY 26, 1970SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
SHELBURNE, VT.
Elena Marie Ramirez of Shelburne, Vt., passed away on September 3, 2025, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Born on January 26, 1970, in Long Island, N.Y., her family moved to Miami, Fla., when she was 1 year old. After graduating magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University, she left Miami the day after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and earned her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Vermont. It was there, in Burlington, that she launched her esteemed career as a clinical psychologist. More importantly, it was at her first home, off Church Street, that she met her neighbor and soulmate, Matt Richer. Together since 1993, they married in January of 1998 in Puerto Rico and settled on Prickly Mountain in Warren, Vt. They welcomed their first daughter, Emma, in 2000, and in 2001 they moved to their forever home in Shelburne, where their second daughter, Ellie, was born in 2003.
For more than 25 years, Elena ran a thriving psychology practice. Over the years she helped countless patients with their struggles, touching so many lives along the way. This talent extended into her personal life as well. Elena was a force — of
OCTOBER 8, 1940AUGUST 28, 2025
WINOOSKI, VT.
Cecile H. Fremeau, 84, of Winooski, Vt., passed away peacefully at home on August 28, 2025. She was born in Winooski on October 8, 1940, the daughter of Edward and Corinne (St. Hilaire) Fremeau. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s Academy in 1960 and the Sheldon School of Beauty. For most of her work years, she was a hairdresser. In semiretirement, she worked for Price Chopper.
Cecile lived her entire life in Winooski. A devout Catholic, she had a very kind heart and loved all living things. Her hobbies included knitting, cooking dishes
energy, of humor, of curiosity, of conversation, of generosity, and of love for her family and friends. She was always willing to lend a hand, have a conversation or help out anyone in any way she could.
Elena’s true passion was her children. Her mission was to provide them with all of the tools, knowledge, education and experiences that would see to it that they were happy, healthy and successful. Nothing gave her more pleasure than watching them grow and thrive over the years.
Her boundless energy was evident to all around her. No matter the weather, she started every day with a run on Shelburne’s trails with her two dogs by her side. In winter, every weekend was devoted to skiing: mostly at Sugarbush (where Matt taught her to ski 30 years ago), but often wherever the next ski race for the kids was happening. In the summer, she looked forward to tanning
from her vast collection of cookbooks and spending time with her animals. She leaves her sister-inlaw, Lucille; and her nieces and nephews: Colleen, Mark, Michael and Christine. She also leaves her greatnieces and great-nephews: Nathan, Katherine, Rachel,
with friends at Quarry Hill or Davis Park. Almost any other time, she was usually up to grab lunch, get a pedicure or embark on a shopping adventure with a friend.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Matthew Richer; daughters Emma and Ellie Ramirez-Richer (her pride and joy); parents Salvador and Janis Ramirez of Miami, Fla.; sisters Sally Ann and Elizabeth of Miami; brother Robert (Julie) of Princeton, N.J.; father-in-law James Richer of Shelburne; sister-in-law Gretchen Richer of Ferrisburgh; brother-inlaw Chris (Ryan) Richer of Bozeman, Mont.; nine nieces and nephews; and her dogs Chewie and Champ.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of the University of Vermont Cancer Center who were always proactive and empathetic in their care and who made hospital visits as pleasant as possible. We are lucky to have this resource in our community.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, 2 p.m., at the Meach Cove Farms Gathering Space in Shelburne (291 Bostwick Farm Road, formerly All Souls Interfaith Gathering).
For those interested in donations in Elena’s name, her charities of choice were the UVM Cancer Center (give.uvmhealth.org/ cancermemorialgift) and Golden Huggs Rescue (goldenhuggs.org).
Laura, Seth, Ryan, Morgan and Briana. She leaves a great-grandnephew, Carson, as well as her beloved cat, Ruby.
Cecile was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Victor Fremeau; and many special aunts and uncles.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winooski. Interment will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
To honor Cecile’s memory, donations in her name can be made to a local animal shelter. Arrangements are in care of LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To send condolences to her family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.
MARCH 19, 1960-SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.
Dave was born on March 19, 1960, in Barre City Hospital and died on September 5, 2025, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., after a long battle with cancer.
Dave was a lifelong hiker, climbing his first mountain, Camel’s Hump, at the age of 5; completing the Long Trail at 13 to become its youngest solo end-to-ender; and continuing to climb Camel’s Hump and nearby mountains until the last year of his life. His appreciation of the wilderness made him a strong proponent of restoring and enhancing our environmental protections.
Overcoming many personal obstacles, he was a fierce advocate for the poor, homeless, mentally ill and others he believed were ill-treated by society. He worked for many years at COTS, as well as helping people cope with jail release, substance abuse and other problems.
Dave was a lover of all creatures on four legs, especially dogs. His childhood dog Schatzie was his constant hiking companion. As an adult, he was never in a position to keep a dog, but his family’s dogs (“puppies”) always gave him, and them, joy.
While Dave took his civic responsibilities seriously, working hard to support candidates who shared his views and letting his representatives know where he stood on issues, he may be remembered best for his generosity of spirit and willingness to lend a helping hand to friends, neighbors and family. He showed a special level of care to his mom, claiming he “tortured that poor woman” as a teenager.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to all the staff and volunteers at McClure Miller, who took such good care of him in his final days. And we especially want to thank all his friends who visited him at both the hospitals and respite house — it did a lot to brighten his spirits. And your friendship is the best testament to the man Dave was.
For several years, Dave was a self-employed logger and snowplow contractor. In his last years, he was a bus driver for GMTA, a job he thoroughly enjoyed, and a proud member of the Teamsters union, until its leadership supported Trump.
Dave was an avid writer and published several chapbooks of original poetry. He continued to pen new work until the last week of his life.
His many other interests included martial arts, both tai chi and Kempo jiujitsu, in which he proudly achieved a purple belt. While opposed to most forms of consumerism, Dave was a lifelong coin collector; he also collected movies, tools and Magic Cards.
MARCH 13, 1935SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT.
Bernice B. Townsend, 90, of Colchester, Vt., passed away peacefully on September 5, 2025, shortly after the death of her husband of 61 years.
Bernice was born on March 13, 1935, in Poland, to Frank and Elizabeth Grygierczyk. In 1963 Bernice married Lynn D. Townsend. Together they moved to Vermont when Lynn transferred with IBM; they built their home and raised their family there.
Dave was predeceased by his mentor and his mother’s longtime partner, Alvin Gover. He is survived by his mother, Hazel Winter; sister, Monique “Moki” Fox; father, James Winter, and his wife, Kelly Winter, who handknit Dave many beautiful hats; nephew, Jesse Fox, and wife, Eron, and their children, Irie, Morgan, Lyran, Quinten, Stella, Jacob and Adelaide; niece Lizzy Fox Lausier, her husband, Steve, and their daughter, Sylvia; and niece Nurto Hassan. A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 2 p.m., at East Cemetery in Williston. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Green Mountain Club (greenmountainclub.org).
Bernice enjoyed a long career in the Admissions Department at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Bernice was
known for her sharp wit and home-cooked meals. Her greatest joy was gathering family and friends around the kitchen table for stories, puzzles and card games. Bernice is survived by her brother John Chojnacki; son, Robert (Sharon) Townsend; daughters, Susan (Michael) VanKoevering and Sandra (James) Franklin; eight grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bernice was predeceased by her beloved husband, Lynn D. Townsend, and her brothers Frank and Walter Grygierczyk.
A private celebration of Bernice’s life will be held at the discretion of the family. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.
FEBRUARY 24, 1939AUGUST 25, 2025
BURLINGTON, VT.
Virginia Aileen Hobbs, known and loved as “Ginger,” died on August 25, 2025, at the Vermont Respite House.
She was born on February 24, 1939, in Santa Monica, Calif., where she began her life under the shadow of World War II air raids, raised by Charles and Daisy Hobbs, who adopted and loved her.
When the threat of war became too much for the family, they moved back east toward the family home of Chaffee, Mo. An eventual series of family losses, transitions and remarriages had her moving from Missouri to Indiana, where as a teenager she met and married Doug Schuessler.
eir young marriage didn’t last but did serve as a springboard that brought her and a friend to Manhattan. It was there, while registering for classes at City College, that she met handsome young Jerry Weinberg. e two married in 1963 and became politically active fighting the Vietnam War, challenging racism and fighting for workers’ rights.
Daughter Cheryl was born in Hackensack, N.J., in 1969, where the family lived until moving to nearby Passaic, a city Ginger and Jerry chose for its cultural and racial diversity, as well as connection to the labor movement.
Ginger received a BA in history from Montclair State University in 1974 and taught school and had a variety of jobs until finding her way to Time-Life, where she worked as a proofreader, editor and typesetter for many of the publications that were housed in the Time-Life building across from Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan.
One of her favorite TimeLife stories was about the idiot boss who once boasted that he had outwitted his high-calorie condensed soup by adding only half of the recommended amount of
water — in a small, funny way underscoring her confidence that workers were generally at least as smart as the people supervising them. An eventual buyout provided the incentive and the ability to leave the tri-state area and move to Vermont, where she and Jerry launched Five Spice Café on lower Church Street in Burlington. He moved to Burlington in 1985, and Ginger and Cheryl followed in 1986.
One day in 1999, she announced that she had received a voicemail from someone doing genealogical research and that new cousins might soon become part of the family. But that message was from a nephew who had been trying to find Ginger herself — the lost sibling they had learned about many years before and (pre-internet) had been patiently trying to find. is began a series of reunions, visits, phone calls, letters and connections that were a source of joy and pride. ough they separated and then divorced, she and Jerry co-owned and operated Five Spice until selling the restaurant and retiring in 2006. Along the way, she made many friends inside and outside of work and enriched her life with participation in spiritual life at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington; devoted practice of the Korean healing art Kouk Sun Do (for which she traveled to Korea to test for her black belt); and volunteer leadership with JUMP (Joint Urban Ministry Project), which advocated for
and served neighbors experiencing financial hardship. Having experienced extreme poverty as a child, she was always seeking compassionate, practical, structural approaches to help others left at society’s margins. Until her final weeks, she was an active participant in the weekly Black Lives Matter vigil held at the Episcopal cathedral next door to where she lived.
In 2002, she became a grandmother when Ethan Charles Herrick was born, to be followed in 2005 by his beloved younger brother, Zander Reed Herrick. She was an absolutely devoted GG, who provided childcare and was a frequent co-traveler on family trips and expert host of overnight visits.
In 2014, after a series of strange symptoms, she was diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, an exceedingly rare non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
rough curiosity and research, the support of the community of fellow “Wallies,” and constant care through the Vermont Cancer Center/ Hematology Oncology, she was able to live a good, vibrant, joyful (if immunocompromised) life.
About cancer, she said, “I don’t ever ask ‘Why me?’ I think about how amazing it is that most of the cells in the body do what they’re supposed to, most of the time.”
Care, gratitude and wonder are what carried her to her final days. Even when those last ones were hard, in conversations she still asked visitors and callers, “But how are you?,” still cherished the incredible view of Lake Champlain that faced her window, and thought creatively and lovingly about the world of which she was a part. She became the center of a circle of love built by dear friends and neighbors, family near and far, and the guidance of Dr. Karen Sokol and the UVM Home Health & Hospice team.
We did not want to say goodbye but could not have
imagined a more beautiful passage.
Ginger lives on in the many, many good works she devoted herself to and is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Lynn Carmi, and son-in-law, Dov Michael Schiller, of Burlington (and Elmore); grandsons, Ethan Charles Herrick of Shelburne and Zander Reed Herrick of Burlington, and their beloved companions; sister Barbara Benoit of Missouri; brother Loyd Means of Arizona; brother Charles omasson of Los Angeles; nieces Alison Bradley, Tammy Means, Rebecca Lee Means and Sandy Contarini; and nephews Phillip Lee Means, Nathan Means and Daniel Lee Weibelt, and their beautiful families. As one of five children from a family of eight siblings, not to mention divorces and remarriages and multiple beloved stepsiblings, there is and was an incredible web of love spun throughout her life, including heart-deep friendships with Harvey and Emris Mason, Rainbow Cornelia, Ruth Solomon and Judith Pelton, the members of her Towanda group of bold women, and so many others, many of whom predeceased her. e presence and help of Robin McClelland and Diana Necrason in her last days and weeks was an incredible gift.
Please celebrate Ginger’s life on Sunday, September 28, 2025, 2 p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Society, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, where Ginger was an active member for many years and where she was delighted to attend the annual poetry service, focused on joy, just weeks ago. If you are seeking to make a charitable donation in her honor, a gift to the Joint Urban Ministry Project, the Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Foundation or the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington — or, really, any organization working to build a good and loving world — would honor her spirit beautifully.
APRIL 6, 1948-AUGUST 30, 2025
SOUTHPORT, N.C.
Jennifer A. “Jenna” Fontaine, 77, of Southport, N.C., passed away Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Born April 6, 1948, in Southborough, Mass., she was a daughter of Roy and Phyllis Chenard. Jenna graduated from North Adams State College and earned her master’s degree from Boston College. She taught at Perkins School for the Blind in Boston and the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. She was a member of the Southport Board of Zoning Adjustment. She was also Southport chair of the Precinct 1 Democratic Party. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Arthur Joseph “Arde” Fontaine; a daughter, Buffy Constantine, and her husband, Shane; a son, Marc Fontaine, and his wife, Lauralee Dowd; her brothers-in-law, Jack Fontaine and his wife, Eileen, and Daniel Russell; and her granddaughter, Brooke Hughes, and her husband, Austin. She is also survived by her great-granddaughter, Ava Hughes; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Renee Russell.
Services are pending and will be announced soon. Memorial donations may be made in Jenna’s name to Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and New Hope Clinic. Online condolences may be made at Peacock, Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, N.C., peacocknewnamwhite.com.
1942-2025
e Vermont community is invited to honor the rich and meaningful life of Stephen C. Terry by joining family and friends on October 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., at the Town Hall eater in Middlebury, Vt. You may choose to watch the celebration virtually at that time using the link or QR code to the right. us02web.zoom.us/j/85970216058
From the days of Bill Shakespeare putting on Macbeth at the Globe to Anaïs Mitchell transporting Hadestown from Barre to Broadway, the performing arts have never been a smooth ride. Even at the best of times, artists and presenters know they face long odds of drawing an audience, let alone (gasp) of turning a profit.
Still, you could forgive Vermont’s performing arts community for sighing a collective “What now?” in recent years. One existential crisis after another has threatened their e orts, each looming like the vaudeville hook of Damocles.
Whether facing a global pandemic, biblical fl oods, federal funding cuts or the turmoil of downtown Burlington, the state’s arts presenters have been tested lately. And they’ve proved their resolve and resilience by doing something remarkably simple: their jobs.
“The arts have a critical role to play,” said Jay Wahl, executive director of the Flynn in Burlington. “Our job is to continually teach empathy for each other and to remind people about that and our collective humanity.”
That’s more than a snappy soundbite. It’s a mission statement shared by artists and organizers throughout the state who believe that the arts have a responsibility not only to entertain but to enlighten, educate and unify — perhaps now more than ever. It’s a hard job that seems unlikely to get any easier in the months ahead.
In Burlington, the usual challenges are compounded by a two-headed hydra wreaking havoc on the streets. A necessary but seemingly never-ending construction project to replace an ancient water main has turned Main Street into an unnavigable maze of chain-link fences, concrete barriers and orange tra c cones. Even getting to the Flynn feels like it requires a map, steel-toed boots and a hard hat.
Meanwhile, perceived safety concerns stemming from the city’s struggles with homelessness, drug use and crime have made audiences hesitant to go downtown, especially at night.
“I can’t sugarcoat it,” Wahl said. “It’s really challenging and a ects us in all sorts of ways.”
A block down Main Street at Vermont Comedy Club, co-owner Nathan Hartswick echoed Wahl’s sentiments and noted a change in audience behavior over the past year or so. Early and late shows at the club used to draw roughly similar crowds.
observing significant milestones or receiving upgrades this year.
Just up the hill at the University of Vermont, the Lane Series marks its 70th season. In those seven decades, it’s gone from hosting the likes of Simon & Garfunkel for 3,000 people at Memorial Auditorium to carving out a niche as one of the region’s premier presenters of chamber music at the intimate UVM Recital Hall.
The diversity of offerings — classical, jazz and folk from all over the world — is central to the series’ artistic and social missions, according to director Natalie Neuert.
“This year … with what’s happening on a national level, I felt really, really strongly about showing that all artists and all audiences of all identities are welcome on our stage and in our hall,” she said.
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: Still/Here COURTESY OF MARIA BARANOVA
Despite roadblocks both metaphorical and literal, Vermont’s performing arts scene readies for the 2025-26 season
BY DAN BOLLES, REBECCA DRISCOLL, CHRIS FARNSWORTH, MARY ANN LICKTEIG & KEN PICARD
Now, early shows significantly outperform late ones. Hartswick attributes the shift to a decline in walk-up tra c because fewer people are coming downtown.
“I don’t get the sense people are out and about, wandering around after dark in Burlington anymore,” he said. “You don’t get that nightlife feeling that you used to.”
Eventually, of course, the construction will end. And when it does, the Flynn, Vermont Comedy Club and other local arts institutions will hopefully still be standing and o ering world-class entertainment.
Vermont Comedy Club celebrates its 10th anniversary this fall — one of several area performing arts organizations
Over the border in New Hampshire, the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College in Hanover unveils extensive renovations to its theater complex. Meanwhile, in Middlebury, Town Hall Theater is breaking in a new wing this season, hoping to cement its status as Addison County’s arts hub and community center.
A similar story is playing out farther south along Route 7 at Rutland’s Paramount Theatre. The 830-seat downtown theater is nearing completion of a $6 million expansion that includes a multiuse space and a 3,000-square-foot secondfloor lobby.
The theater has been a cornerstone of downtown revitalization in Rutland. In executive director Eric Mallette’s view, it’s a testament to the role the performing arts can play in strengthening communities.
“What we do matters,” he said. “I love that I can sit in a room with 829 strangers and not give a damn about how they voted, if they’re vegan, whatever the reasons are that would generally put us in our own little silos.
“For 90 minutes,” he continued, “we’re all in the same silo, appreciating something in front of us. And I don’t know where else that’s replicated.”
Except, of course, in other venues throughout the region — where, in the coming months, presenters will entertain and challenge audiences with gut-busting comedy, moving music, thought-provoking dance and theater, and productions that defy categorization. Read on for a sampling of what local stages have in store for the 2025-26 season.
DAN BOLLES
Friday, October 10, 7:30 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $32-53. flynnvt.org
“I strive to be a bitch,” Margaret Cho once said, “because ... not being a bitch means not having your voice heard.” For more than three decades, Cho has been raising her voice, often on behalf of those who typically are silenced by the dominant (read: heterosexual white male) culture.
Throughout her groundbreaking career as a standup comedian, actor and social commentator, Cho has worn her traumas — rape, addiction, self-hatred — on the outside like the tattoos that grace her body. Growing up, the San Francisco-born Korean American was bullied, beaten, and ridiculed as ugly, lazy and queer. Even after she starred in the first-ever sitcom to highlight an Asian American family, ABC’s “All-American Girl,” she was regularly criticized as too heavy, too political, too Asian — or not Asian enough. Last year, Forbes asked her if the rumor of her suicide attempt in a hotel room was true.
“I tried to hang myself on the shower curtain rod,” she confirmed. “The rod was bending, and I’m thinking, Oh shit, I’m too fat to kill myself. I’ll get down and try again when I reach my goal weight.”
Cho, 56, seems in a much better place now. In October, the five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee,
whom Rolling Stone named one of the top 50 standup comics of all time, returns to her political roots with her new show, “Choligarchy.” In it she takes aim at racism, menopause, Donald Trump and tiny genitalia. As she joked about Trump in 2017, “I don’t know how he’s president, because he can’t even blend his under-eye concealer with the rest of his makeup.”
Cho, snap!
Hari Kondabolu: e Brooklyn comic is a regular panelist on the NPR quiz show “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” ursday, September 18, 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, September 19, and Saturday, September 20, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. $25. vermontcomedyclub.com
Adam Cayton-Holland: e comedian drew literary acclaim for his 2018 memoir, Tragedy Plus Time, which is being adapted into a movie. ursday, October 16, 7 p.m.; and Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18, 7 & 9 p.m., at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. $25. vermontcomedyclub.com
Josh Johnson: Wired called Johnson “the funniest guy on the internet,” and we can’t argue. Sunday, October 26, 4 & 7 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $43.75-64.75. flynnvt.org
Dulcé Sloan: You’ve seen this rising comic as a correspondent on “ e Daily Show With Trevor Noah.” Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, 7 & 9 p.m., at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. $25. vermontcomedyclub.com
Friday, September 26, 7:30 p.m., at Wright Memorial eatre, Middlebury College. $5-30. middlebury.edu
Say the name Mozart and most people think of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But the 18th-century Austrian composer had a sister. “Virtuoso,” “prodigy” and “genius” were used to describe pianist and composer Maria Anna Mozart, who was five years older than her famous brother. The siblings toured Europe together as “wunderkinder,” and she got top billing — but that ended when she turned 18. Touring as a woman would have besmirched her reputation. Her compositions have been lost to history, and her gravestone reads “sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.”
Sylvia Milo refused to let Maria Anna remain a footnote in her brother’s story. Drawing on hundreds of family letters, she wrote and performs The Other Mozart, a one-woman play the Los Angeles Times called “hauntingly beautiful.” Its solo-performer format is “uniquely suited to depicting the solitary, alienated life of Maria Anna, nicknamed Nannerl,” the Times wrote.
Visually centered on an 18-foot dress that spills over the stage and metaphorically cages Nannerl, the play has toured in 30 U.S. states and around the world — including in Mozart homes in Vienna and Salzburg. Its o -Broadway run earned two New York Innovative Theatre awards, as well as Drama Desk and O Broadway Alliance award nominations.
“Like Virginia Woolf’s imagined Shakespeare’s sister, Nannerl was not given the opportunity to thrive,” Milo wrote in the Guardian in 2015. “We will never know what could have been, and this is our loss.”
M.A.L.
Trouble in Tahiti: Opera Company of Middlebury’s Bernstein Festival culminates in stagings of the Broadway composer’s rare one-act musical. Friday, October 3, 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, 2 p.m., at Town Hall eater in Middlebury. $61-94. townhalltheater.org
A Bayou Legend: Set in Mississippi, this story of love and revenge blends the physical and spiritual worlds. Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15, 7:30 p.m., Opera Vermont at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. $25-55. chandler-arts.org
Hadestown: Anaïs Mitchell’s Tony Award-winning musical about the Orpheus myth returns to Vermont. Saturday, December 13, 1 & 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 14, 1 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $41-106. flynnvt.org
Saturday, September 20, 7 p.m., at Paramount eatre in Rutland. $30-35. paramountvt.org
Red Hot Chili Peppers fans who aren’t necessarily eagle-eyed might expect gratuitous mentions of California, or perhaps dudes running around with socks on their private parts, at a Red Hot Chilli Pipers show. Rather than any of those hallmarks of the mega-popular funk-rock band, they will find a wall of sound featuring a fiery ensemble of Scottish pipers, backed by a powerful rock-and-roll rhythm section.
Part Scottish highland anthems and part foot-stomping hard rock, the Pipers describe themselves as “AC/DC meets the poet Robert Burns.” The group of internationally renowned pipers took the top prize on the UK talent show “When Will I Be Famous?” and became a phenomenon, performing traditional Scottish songs such as “The Hills of Argyll” alongside their versions of classics by the likes of Queen, Deep Purple, Coldplay and, of course, the Chili Peppers. The band has drawn rave reviews from no less a luminary than Sir Paul McCartney, as well as actor Ewan McGregor, who has sat in on drums with the group.
So pull on your kilt, work on your best brogue and channel Scotland over California for a night of hard-rockin’ pipes.
C.F.
e Breakers — A Tribute to Tom Petty: e country’s premier Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers tribute band won’t back down. Saturday, October 18, 7:30 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $32-42. barreoperahouse.org
Flamy Grant: More than a send-up of Christianpop star Amy Grant, this drag show is as sincere as it is silly. ursday, November 6, 7:30 p.m., at First Congregational Church of Lebanon in Lebanon, N.H. $23. lebanonoperahouse.org
Story of a Song: A ’90s Unplugged Experience: Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), Brian Vander Ark (the Verve Pipe), Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge) and John Hampson (Nine Days) swap songs and stories. Friday, November 7, 7:30 p.m., at Paramount eatre in Rutland. $48-68. paramountvt.org
Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., at Dance eatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-30. middlebury.edu
Do you enjoy A) postwar, avant-garde Japanese dance; B) hip-hop music; or C) multimedia theater performances? If you answered yes to any of the above, then the Vermont premiere of time/life/beauty should be at the tippy-top of your can’t-miss list for 2026.
Interdisciplinary artist Michael Sakamoto and electronic-experimental musician Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) merge their talents to present a contemplative original work inspired by the legacy of late Japanese composer and activist Ryuichi Sakamoto (no relation to Michael). Through fusion of manifold art forms — including mesmerizing butoh dance — the pair tackles weighty, hot-button themes without flinching.
This timely project — distilled into three chapters titled “Gods and Monsters,” “asymm,” and “Beautiful Blue Sky” — channels the creators’ distinct approaches to intercultural dialogue and the performing arts. The resulting triptych holds up a mirror to society, imploring the audience to confront the acute social and environmental unrest of both today and the future.
Chapter 1 employs Miller’s music and Michael Sakamoto’s dance to explore cultural flash points — such as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — and consider human beings’ relationships to each other and the planet. In Chapter 2, Sakamoto o ers a more intimate, semiautobiographical meditation. Chapter 3 calls upon contemporary dancer Mohammed Smahneh (aka Barges) to present a cross-cultural conversation that merges movement, text and visuals.
e Institute for Folding: ree dancers, 30 sheets of cardboard and so many existential questions lie at the heart of Michael Bodel’s interdisciplinary work, presented by Vermont Dance Alliance. Wednesday, September 17, 7:30 p.m., at Dance eater, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-20. middlebury.edu. Saturday, September 20, 7:30 p.m., at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. $20. highlandartsvt.org. Friday, September 26, 7 p.m., at Next Stage Arts in Putney. $20. nextstagearts.org. Friday, October 3, 7:30 p.m., at First Congregational Church of Burlington. $20. vermontdance. org. Wednesday, October 29, 7:30 p.m., at Briggs Opera House in White River Junction. $20. vermontdance.org
Chrybaby Cozie & Harlem Lite Feet: Chrysolation: e pioneering street dancer and members of the Bomb Squad share the origins of a New York City hip-hop tradition. Wednesday, January 7, 7:30 p.m., at Daryl Roth Studio eater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $18-30. hop.dartmouth.edu
Parsons Dance: Athleticism and jaw-dropping ensemble work are the calling cards of this internationally renowned troupe. Saturday, March 28, 7 p.m., KCP Presents at Lyndon Institute Auditorium in Lyndon Center. $18-54; free for students. catamountarts.org
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: Still/Here premiere during the AIDS epidemic, the groundbreaking dance theater piece returns. Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Moore eater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, N.H. $40-65. : irty years after its Dartmouth College, in hop.dartmouth.edu
No matter your origin, age or creed, time/life/beauty delivers the feels.
Friday, October 3, 7 p.m., at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. $10-40; free for kids 12 and under. chandler-arts.org
The Estonian Finnish duo Puuluup play what they describe as “zombie folk.” No, there’s no bloodthirsty dulcimer player, marauding in search of flesh, but Marko Veisson and Ramo Teder do specialize in reanimating once-dead sounds.
Their latest album, Viimane Suusataja, translated as “The Last Cross-Country Skier,” features the talharpa. The formerly extinct Swedish instrument is essentially a lyre in wooden-box form that’s both fingerpicked and bowed. Puuluup use looping pedals to layer their voices atop the talharpa, creating a style that is equal parts traditional, experimental and surprisingly funky, often with a humorous bent.
“The instrument is made of dead wood, we are inspired by a dead tradition, and we also are on our way to death,” Puuluup said in a press release. What else would you expect from a duo with songs such as “Paala Järve Vaala Baar,” about a whale pulling up to its favorite bar to get drunk?
Puuluup’s cross-generational appeal earned them a spot in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest finals, representing Estonia.
Sierra Hull & John Craigie: The Americana duo combines top-notch chops with idiosyncratic songwriting. Thursday, October 2, 7:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. $42.5052.50. lebanonoperahouse.org. Friday, October 3, 7 p.m., at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe. $53.15-69.20. sprucepeakarts.org
Sam Reider & the Human Hands: Songlines Magazine called this group “a mash-up of the
Klezmatics, Quintette du Hot Club de France and the Punch Brothers.” Friday, October 10, 7:30 p.m., Lane Series at the University of Vermont Recital Hall in Burlington. $7.50-38.50. uvm.edu/laneseries
Sunny Jain: Love Force: The Red Baraat founder calls for compassion in a new storytelling work fusing Punjabi rhythms and American jazz. Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m., at Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $30-45. hop.dartmouth.edu
Kept, Memories Kindled
ursday, September 11, 7:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. $45-65. lebanonoperahouse.org.
Friday, September 12, 7:30 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $42-73. flynnvt.org. Saturday, September 13, 7:30 p.m., at Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University-Johnson. $42-62. catamountarts.org. ursday, September 18, 7:30 p.m., at Paramount eatre in Rutland. $42.80-74.90. paramountvt.org
Wait — can you hear that? Pack your metaphorical bags and buckle up for some major craic, because the pipes, the pipes are calling you to “A Taste of Ireland.”
Fresh from a successful oBroadway run, former Irish dance world champions unite with performers from renowned companies Lord of the Dance and Riverdance for this must-see spectacle of light, movement and sound, transporting American eyes and ears to the Emerald Isle without the chaos and drama of an international flight.
e Sleeping
e Ukrainian company stages
Thousands of years of lore and landmark events in the Celtic motherland — from ancient mythology and Vikings to famine and the Easter Rising — come to life through showstopping storytelling and costumes, relaying the island’s rich history with gusto. Electric moments of seamlessly executed song and dance, including revamped ballads such as “Danny Boy” and “The Wild Rover,” capture the traditions and heritage of the hope-filled country, reminding viewers of the importance of passing down nonverbal art forms through the generations.
Katie Hagan of Dance Art Journal said it best: “As Irish dance is rooted in community and resilience, performing these stories, especially ones about famine and uprising and courage, feels more relevant than ever.”
You don’t have to be named Danny to agree with that sentiment.
R.D.
Perrault’s fairy tale of the same name. ursday, October 16, 7 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $48.75-69.75. flynnvt.org
Grand Kyiv Ballet Presents Swan Lake: is one is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic tale of a prince who falls in love with a beautiful swan princess under a spell. Saturday, October 18, 7 p.m., at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. $39-69. chandler-arts.org. Sunday, October 19, 4 p.m., at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe. $39.24-76.69. sprucepeakarts.org
American Ballet eatre Studio Company: rill to the next generation of professional ballet dancers. Monday, November 3, 7 p.m., KCP Presents at Lyndon Institute Auditorium in Lyndon Center. $18-54; free for students. catamountarts.org
Boston Dance eater: Red Is a Feeling: e color red inspires a series of short, interwoven works by internationally acclaimed dancers. Saturday, March 14, 7 p.m., at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe. $29.08-63.85. sprucepeakarts.org
Monday, October 13, 7:30 p.m., at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. $39.50-44.50; sold out. highergroundmusic.com. Tuesday, October 14, 7:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. $68-88. lebanonoperahouse.org
Je Tweedy has a lot to say. How else to explain the Wilco leader’s prolific output in his nearly 40-year music career? The Chicago songwriter has released dozens of records, from his early days with alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo and supergroup Golden Smog in the late ’80s; to his later collaborations with the likes of Mavis Staples, the Handsome Family and Rosanne Cash; to his voluminous Wilco canon — some 13 studio albums, five EPs, three live albums and scads of singles. And then there are his three New York best-selling books.
Times best-selling Override acoustic and and tour.
On September 26, Tweedy releases his fifth solo album. But Twilight isn’t just any solo record — it’s three of ’em. The triple LP was actually pared down from five, its 30 songs largely centered on acoustic guitar and Tweedy’s signature rasp, accented by droning violin, organ and pedal steel. His sons Sammy (vocals) and Spencer Tweedy (drums), along with guitarist James Elkington, bassist Liam Kazar, and singers Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart back him on the record and in his touring band — Cunningham and Stewart will also open shows on the Twilight Override
A meditation on the past, the present and the future, on aging and ennui, the album strikes a notably compassionate tone. As Tweedy told magazine, “It’s a big open-hearted outpouring, the defining statement of my solo career so far.”
Until the next one, anyway.
Mojo magazine, stateanyway.
Violent Femmes: e legendary acoustic punk band goes on like a blister in the sun. Saturday, October 11, 8 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. Sold out. flynnvt.org
e Barr Brothers: e Montréal indie rockers create endlessly creative music that ignores genre boundaries. Tuesday, November 4, 8 p.m., at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. $25. highergroundmusic.com
e Wood Brothers: e “masters of soulful folk” (Paste magazine), tour in support of their new album, Puff of Smoke. Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. $43.50-62.50. lebanonoperahouse.org
Neko Case: Fun fact: e Vermont indie rocker and cofounder of the New Pornographers is working on a Broadway adaptation of elma & Louise Sunday, January 11, 7:30 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $50-71. flynnvt.org
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Bronze Medalist: Evren Ozel, Age 26, USA 9/19
Yumi Kurosawa Trio 9/26
Alex Cuba 10/3
Sam Reider & The Human Hands: The Golem and Other Tales 10/10 Aris Quartett 10/17
Dreamers’ Circus SOLD OUT! 10/24
Jerron Paxton & Dennis Lichtman 11/1
Valerie Coleman & Friends: REVERIE: Dreams of Harlem and Paris 11/7
Ute Lemper 12 /5
Songs for Midwinter with Kongero and Windborne
Saturday, October 4, 7 p.m., Catamount Arts and KCP Presents at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy. $11.40-43.20; free for students. catamountarts.org Chicago has long been known as “the Second City,” in part because of its rivalry, in population size and cultural influence, with New York City. But since its inception in 1959, the Second City theater and touring company has been anything but second-rate. For decades the famed improv and sketch-comedy troupe has launched the careers of dozens of comedians and actors, many of whom went on to star on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Among them: Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Catherine O’Hara, John Belushi, Amy Sedaris, Mike Myers, Tina Fey and Steve Carell.
Prior to joining the Second City cast, Stephen Colbert worked in its box o ce, where he reportedly set a record for selling the most merchandise. And long before “SNL,” or America, knew the name Chris Farley, he was honing his now-famous motivational speaker character, Matt “Down by the River” Foley, on the Second City stage.
“You never know where [the cast] is going, and you never know where the night’s gonna go, because the audience is part of the show,” Second City and “SNL” alum Rachel Dratch told NBC’s “Today” show in 2024.
For the uninitiated, the Second City blends scripted sketches, live music and audience-suggested improv to deliver hilarious, razor-sharp political and social commentary. Check out the latest crop of up-and-comers from the touring company that Time magazine once called “a temple of satire.” K.P.
Big Pond Improv Festival: Improv teams from around the world converge on the Queen City for four days of “yes, and…” shenanigans. ursday, September 11, through Sunday, September 14, at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. Free-$60. vermontcomedyclub.com
“Parent on Board”: Parenting is the focus of this sketch-comedy revue written and performed by local comedians and directed by Second City alum Andrew Ritter. ursday, September 18, and Friday, September 19, 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, September 20, 4 & 8 p.m., at Town Hall eater in Middlebury. $17-55. townhalltheater.org
“Whose Live Anyway?”: e current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” deliver 90 minutes of off-the-cuff improv comedy. Wednesday, October 1, 7:30 p.m., at Paramount eatre in Rutland. $55-77.50. paramountvt.org
Friday, October 3, 7:30 p.m., Lane Series at the University of Vermont Recital Hall in Burlington. $7.5035.50. uvm.edu/laneseries
Music reviewers invariably lavish praise on Alex Cuba for his sun-baked guitar ri s, velvety-smooth vocals and grooving Latin rhythms, all of which evoke mojitos sipped at sunset on a white sand beach. The 51-year-old Cuban-born singer-songwriter lives in Canada and has garnered a mantelpiece full of accolades, including two JUNO Awards for world music album of the year, four Latin Grammys and a 2022 Grammy for best Latin pop album, Mendó
But Cuba’s most ringing endorsements may come from his own fans. Peruse the (mostly Spanish-language) comments on his YouTube videos, some of which have been viewed more than 1 million times, and you’ll discover the potency of his music.
“This song in the background, a dinner with wine, 16 years of not seeing each other, and now we’re together. Thank you!” writes one listener of Cuba’s 2019 release “Solo Mía.” “The love of my life dedicated this song to me,” writes another Cuba fan. “I spent 20 years with him ... but God called him two months ago. Now I listen to it and I can’t stop crying.”
Writes another about “Dividido,” Cuba’s 2019 collaboration with Mexican singer-songwriter Silvana Estrada: “It’s the color of voice I’ve been looking for all my life.”
Cuba, who usually plays larger venues such as Radio City Music Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, will perform in the 300-seat University of Vermont Recital Hall— a rare, intimate setting for a world-class artist whose music is both uplifting and soulful.
Spruce Peak Unplugged: Teddy ompson: e son of British folk icons Linda and Richard ompson trades in a blend of country and rock tinted with shades of ’60s doo-wop and ’80s synth-pop. Saturday, October 11, 7 p.m., at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe. $38.7153.15. sprucepeakarts.org
e Tallest Man on Earth: e Swedish singer-songwriter is actually only five foot seven, but his acoustic sound is big and beautiful. Saturday, October 11, 7:30 p.m., at First Unitarian Universalist Society in Burlington. $44.40. highergroundmusic.com
Jerron Paxton & Dennis Lichtman: is acclaimed duo interprets a spectrum of early American jazz, folk and acoustic blues through a modern lens, making it sound as fresh as the day it was written. Saturday, November 1, 7:30 p.m., Lane Series at the University of Vermont Recital Hall in Burlington. $7.50-33.50. uvm.edu/
laneseries
e violin virtuoso has played with indie rockers of montreal, Sondre Lerche and Regina Spektor, along with his own electro-rock outfit, Jupiter One. Saturday, February 7, 7:30 p.m., at Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $25-45. hop.dartmouth.edu
Monday, October 20, 7:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H.
$62.50-82.50. lebanonoperahouse.org.
Tuesday, October 21, 7:30 p.m., at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington.
$42.50-74. flynnvt.org
The co-headlining tour of acclaimed singer-songwriters Patty Griffin and Rickie Lee Jones could easily be called the “Too Many Grammys Tour.” Both have decades-long careers that have placed them among the most influential American women in the music industry.
Jones broke out with her 1979 selftitled debut, which went platinum on the back of hit singles such as “Chuck E.’s in Love” and her career-making performance as a then-unknown on “Saturday Night Live.” Since Griffin hit the scene in 1996 with her debut album, Living With Ghosts, her songs have been performed by everyone from Bette Midler to Kelly Clarkson.
Both women are known not just for incredible voices but also for their storytelling gifts. “There has always
been something defiant about Rickie Lee Jones,” an Independent critic wrote in 2011, calling her singing “a voice from a dream, elusive yet familiar, transcendent, a messenger from another place.”
Griffin creates “complete emotional portraits of specific people,” the New York Times wrote. “[Her] songs have
Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3, 7:30 p.m., at the Moore Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $40-65. hop.dartmouth.edu
“If you put a bunch of people who are passionate and smart and rigorous and come from different backgrounds in a room, something’s gonna happen.” That’s what Matt Ross said about the TEAM, the Brooklyn ensemble that collectively creates new works about the experience of living in America today. Ross chairs the board of the company that was founded in 2004 by six New York University alumni.
The TEAM believes that “how we make is as important as what we make.” A multiracial group of 21 artists ages 29 to 99 wrote its latest work, co-commissioned by the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College and partially developed during the TEAM’s 2020 residency there. Reconstructing “weaves dramatic text, music, movement, historical artifacts, and transcripts from our creative process to tell a story of a multi-racial group of artists trying to move through American history together in the aftermath of slavery,” TEAM producing director — and Dartmouth grad — Emma Orme said in an email.
Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown, 2019) and Obie Award winner Zhailon Levingston (Cats: The Jellicle Ball, 2025) direct and perform in the cast of the meta theatrical work that Vulture called a “complex and combustible project.”
M.A.L.
independent lives that continue in your head when the music ends.”
Neither singer is resting on her laurels: Griffin released the critically acclaimed album Crown of Roses in July, and Jones’ most recent album, Pieces of Treasure, was nominated for the 2024 Grammy Award for best traditional pop vocal album.
C.F.
Amy Grant: The six-time Grammy Award winner and philanthropist performs hits such as “Baby, Baby” and “Lucky One.” Tuesday, October 7, 7:30 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $76.25-86.75. flynnvt.org
The Bluegrass Gospel Project Reunion Concert: The locally legendary outfit returns after an eight-year hiatus with original vocalist Patti Casey. Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $40. barreoperahouse.org
Leroy Preston: After starting his career in Vermont, the guitarist cofounded the Grammy-winning Western swing group Asleep at the Wheel and wrote hits for the likes of Rosanne Cash and k.d. lang. Saturday, November 8, 7 p.m., at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. $10-40. chandler-arts.org
Rosanne Cash: The “Seven Year Ache” singer and four-time Grammy winner is country music royalty. Friday, March 20, 7 p.m., KCP Presents at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy. $32-72; free for students. catamountarts.org. Saturday, March 21, 7 p.m., at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe. $72.41-138.75. sprucepeakarts.org
The World Is Not Silent: A funny and touching drama explores the connection between Don, a firstgeneration Vietnamese American astrophotographer, and his father, Dau. Wednesday, February 4, to Sunday, February 22, Northern Stage at Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction. $10-80. northernstage.org
Uncle Vanya: David Mamet’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s tragicomic tale features unrequited love,
lots of vodka and musings about the meaning of life. Saturday, February 28, to Friday, March 6, Vermont Repertory Theater at the Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, in Burlington. $20-40. vermontrep.com
Rhinoceros: Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist classic — about a town whose residents turn into rhinos — is a hilarious and piercing satire. Thursday, April 30, to Sunday, May 17, Vermont Stage at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington. $34-54. vermontstage.org
Friday, October 3, 6:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H., $25-58. lebanonoperahouse.org. Saturday, November 15, 7 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $22-45. barreoperahouse.org
You’ve seen him on “America’s Got Talent,” “Penn & Teller: Fool Us!” and “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” — or have you? Leon Etienne is among the world’s foremost illusionists, but it’s not just his jaw-dropping feats of magic that have thrilled audiences worldwide. It’s the creativity, attitude and pervasive air of impending doom with which he approaches his illusions that set him apart.
When he was 13 years old, Etienne was struck by lightning. No, the near-death experience didn’t give him magical powers — or his awesome spiky hair. But it did instill a sense of living life to the fullest and taking risks. That’s evident in
his chosen craft, which he calls “danger magic.”
As the title of Etienne’s touring show suggests, “Magic Rocks!” is a magic act with a rock-and-roll heart. Take, for example, his ri on escaping a straitjacket. Etienne does the trick while suspended upside down in midair from a set of giant steel jaws that will snap closed on him like a mechanical shark if he doesn’t free himself in time.
Now that’s metal.
D.B.
CatVideoFest: It’s 70-plus minutes of cat videos. What more do you need? Sunday,
September 28, 4 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. $13-15. lebanonoperahouse.org
Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular: Embrace the magic of the season through illusions, tricks and comedy with a holiday twist. Sunday, November 29, 7 p.m., at Paramount eatre in Rutland. $45-65. paramountvt.org
Wonders: Scottish illusionist Scott Silven casts a spellbinding fusion of magic and theater. ursday, January 15, through Saturday, January 17, 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, 2 p.m., at Daryl Roth Studio eater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $35. hop.dartmouth.edu
Puppy Pals Live: As seen on “America’s Got Talent,” rescue dogs perform pawdropping stunts. Saturday, February 14, 2 p.m., at Paramount eatre in Rutland. $26.50. paramountvt.org
made several acclaimed albums together including MoodSwing in 1994, RoundAgain in 2020 and LongGone in 2022, with Joshua Redman and Brian Blade. “Brad is justifiably revered as one of the greatest pianists of all time,” McBride told Glide Magazine, “and it continues to be an uplifting experience every time we play together.”
D.B.
Saturday, October 4, 7:30 p.m., at Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $48.75-69.75. flynnvt.org
Individually, Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau are two of the most respected and accomplished jazz musicians on the planet. But together, they are otherworldly.
McBride is a bassist and composer with nine Grammy Awards, among roughly a gazillion other accolades. It’d be easier to list the jazz giants he hasn’t collaborated with than all of those he has, but a short list would include McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, Wynton
Marsalis and Joshua Redman. That’s in addition to forays into pop and hip-hop with the likes of the Roots, Queen Latifah, Sting, Paul McCartney and James Brown. For all those marquee names, McBride’s favorite collaborator is likely the pianist Mehldau, his friend of 35 years who is almost as decorated as he is. The two have
e Branford Marsalis Quartet: You can’t go wrong with America’s first family of jazz. Wednesday, November 12, 7:30 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $32-68. barreoperahouse.org
Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill: e world’s greatest living interpreter of Weimar cabaret pays tribute to the iconic “Mack the Knife” composer. Friday, December 5, 7:30 p.m., Lane Series at the University of Vermont Recital Hall in Burlington. $43.50; $7.50 for students. uvm.edu/laneseries
Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: Great American Crooners: Vocalists Robbie Lee, Shenel Johns and Benny Benack III do Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and more, backed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center band. ursday, April 9, 7 p.m., KCP Presents at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. $45. catamountarts.org
Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap: Two giants of jazz come together for an intimate evening of unforgettable music. Saturday, April 25, 7:30 p.m., at Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $35-65. hop.dartmouth.edu
Tuesday, February 24, 7 p.m., KCP Presents at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy. $18-54; free for students. catamountarts.org
Imagine, if you will, a performance of early music played on period instruments. Now, add a healthy helping of rock. That’s Ruckus.
Billed by San Francisco Classical Voice as “the world’s only period-instrument rock band,” the collaborative New York ensemble revamps early music with a lively injection of modern American roots. The end result is a fresh twist on Renaissance and baroque works that pulls listeners in and doesn’t let go.
Audiences can expect an energized, punched-up version of 18th-century British abolitionist Ignatius Sancho’s “Strawberries and Cream,” among many other spritely compositions and two trio sonatas by crowd-favorite George Frideric Handel. The group’s signature groove — what the New Yorker describes as “rough-edged intensity” — lends these works of yore new meaning but without sacrificing the composers’ spirit and intent.
And how ’bout them instruments?
Most ensembles tackling a similar repertoire employ music makers of a certain vintage (read: very old), such as the harpsichord and the viola da gamba. Ruckus use those, too, but with the addition of more modern inventions such as the synthesizer.
For virtual music journal the Boston Musical Intelligencer, Ruckus take continuo playing to “not simply a new level, but a revelatory new dimension of dynamism altogether … an eruption of pure, pulsing hoedown joy.”
Listen for yourself and discover a whole new sonic world.
R.D.
Dreamers’ Circus: e Danish trio plays Nordic folk with an improvisational jazz streak and pop sensibility. Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m., Lane Series at the University of Vermont Recital Hall in Burlington. Sold out. uvm.edu/laneseries. Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m., at Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-30. middlebury.edu
Horszowski Trio: e dynamic trio performs music by Leonard Bernstein and Bedřich Smetana. Saturday, January 10, 5 & 7:30 p.m., at Morris Recital Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $21-35. hop.dartmouth.edu
Väsen and the Fretless: is unique double bill features a world-renowned Swedish duo and an award-winning Canadian string quartet. Saturday, February 14, 7:30 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $27-39. barreoperahouse.org
yMusic: is Gen Y ensemble has collaborated with John Legend and Paul Simon, blending chamber music and pop. Tuesday, February 17, 5 & 7:30 p.m., at Morris Recital Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $21-45. hop.dartmouth.edu
Though these plays span wildly different worlds—they are united by characters who dare to think for themselves, connect across divides, and stand firm in a world that demands they conform. Join us for a season that reminds us: holding onto your humanity may be the most radical act of all. For tix & more info on the plays: VERMONTSTAGE.ORG
After 31 years, grit, devotion and generosity keep the curtain rising on Vermont Stage
BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com
The show opens with the sound of a ticking clock. Jon is panicky because he is about to turn 30 and has yet to write a truly successful musical. “Turn 30 … Boom! You’re passé,” he sings in tick, tick… BOOM!
New York City actor Coleman Cummings played the role in Vermont Stage’s 2024 production. Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical follows a New York City musical theater composer as he wrestles with a wrenching choice: continue pursuing his dream or throw in the towel.
Vermont Stage turned 30 the year it produced the show, the final full play of its 2023-24 season. Unbeknownst to Cummings, his two fellow actors, the musicians and crew, the company stood at a similar crossroads. An executive director hired to manage the business had left after 17 months. Ticket sales and donations had failed to meet projections, and Vermont Stage was on track to end the year more than $175,000 in the red, an operating loss more than five times larger than any in the previous 20 years.
Board members and producing artistic director Cristina Alicea, who also directed tick, tick… BOOM! , had decided to let
the company’s future ride on the show’s success. None of them wanted to close Vermont Stage, Alicea said, but some, herself included, asked themselves if it was time. That season — the company’s third post-pandemic — subscriber numbers remained low, and ticket sales were wildly unpredictable.
Board meetings that spring became “heartfelt discussions,” Alicea said. Maybe people didn’t want live theater anymore.
“I think COVID, in a lot of ways, broke people’s ability to gather in public,” board member Maria McGrath said.
Alicea and the board could raise the money to erase the deficit and mount a subsequent season, she recalled them discussing, but should they? “The main question that the board posed that year … was: Do we have the audience anymore?”
Tick, tick… BOOM! opened its four-week run with sparse attendance, and Alicea feared she had the answer. A musical with a compelling story and beautiful soundtrack “is a Vermont Stage show through and through,” she said, and it wasn’t selling.
“But then,” she said, “by the middle of the second week, it started creeping up. And then we were basically sold out by
the third week and the fourth week.” They added the optional matinee at the end of the run.
“We put that question out into the universe … Is there a desire for Vermont Stage to still exist?” Alicea said. “And those folks showed up and answered that question as a yes.”
In two weeks, Vermont Stage will open its 31st season with The Garbologists, a comedy about a white, male veteran trash collector paired with a Black, female, Ivy League-educated newbie on a New York City garbage truck. The Lindsay Joelle play epitomizes the company’s offerings: contemporary works with socially relevant themes that spark discussion.
Keeping the curtain rising at northern Vermont’s only professional theater company is a theatrical tale in its own right. The Vermont Stage story brims with bold artistic choices; nail-biting cliff-hangers (plural) when the company nearly folds; and a cast of artists, administrators and theater lovers whose grit, generosity and commitment keep it all running. And it’s all enlivened by the exuberance of generations of Vermont kids seeing the plays they wrote performed by professionals through
the company’s Vermont Young Playwrights program.
Though not a union house, Vermont Stage pays all of its actors, directors and creative staff. It’s not a living wage, Alicea said: “We pay as well as we can, given our size.”
Even in the best of times, the cost to produce a show is typically double the show’s ticket revenue. Educational programs don’t cover their own costs, either.
“We lose money on everything,” said Alicea, 46, who has led the company since 2011. The situation is not unique to Vermont Stage, she added. “There isn’t any money in nonprofit theater.” Donors, corporate sponsors and grants make up for the operating losses. Vermont Stage carries no other debt. The company was in solid financial shape, set to raise the most revenue in Alicea’s tenure, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut it down in 2020. Five years later, it continues to recover, along with performing arts organizations nationwide, all of which are navigating a continually shifting economic and political landscape. Ticket buyers’ habits have changed. Vermont Stage subscribers numbered 395 last season, roughly two-thirds of their pre-pandemic number. President Donald Trump’s attempts to eliminate arts and humanities agencies cast future funding in doubt. Public broadcasting’s loss of federal funding threatens to divert donor dollars away from other nonprofits. Even fluctuating lumber prices and tariffs on Canadian imports affect theaters by increasing their set-building budgets.
“Theatre Facts 2023,” a study released in March by Theatre Communications Group in partnership with SMU DataArts, shows that ticket income in U.S. professional nonprofit theaters increased 31 percent between 2022 and 2023, but it remained 29 percent lower than in 2019, when adjusted for inflation. Contributed income — money from donors, governments, grants and foundations — dropped 15 percent from 2022 to 2023 and 11 percent from 2019, when adjusted for inflation.
Even before the pandemic, the great plot twist no one saw coming, Vermont Stage’s drama was playing out offstage as well as on. Mark Nash summed it up effectively 16 years ago, when he was producing artistic director.
Vermont Stage’s history, he told Seven Days for a story on the company’s 15th
anniversary, “makes for a pretty neat narrative arc: A company starts out all plucky. Then it almost crashes and burns, and then it pulls itself back up by its bootstraps.”
Blake Robison started the company in 1994. After acting in New York City, he had returned to Vermont to find lots of summer theater but a dearth the rest of the year. For its inaugural season, Vermont Stage produced The Glass Menagerie at Champlain College in Burlington.
Under Robison, now producing artistic director at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the itinerant company presented primarily reimagined classics. It also debuted work by Vermont playwright Dana Yeaton, who in 1995 helped start Vermont Young Playwrights, a program that has taught playwriting to nearly 14,000 middle and high school students and is still running. Yeaton’s Mad River Rising premiered in 1998 and went on a statewide “barnstorming tour” — performed in actual barns — the following season.
Nash, who had been a Vermont Stage actor, began his 11-year run as producing artistic director in 2000, the year the company found a home stage at Flynn Space. Its first production there was Yeaton’s stage adaptation of Chris Bohjalian’s novel Midwives
With its low ceilings and posts, the space proved artistically limiting but cozy and easy to reconfigure. “Professional theater in an intimate setting” became the company’s tagline during its 18 years at Flynn Space. Having a home stage offered stability and the opportunity to sell seasonal subscription packages, which are valuable to theaters as a source of the up-front cash needed to launch a season.
Nash gravitated toward plays with small casts, and the company often staged them arena-style, putting the actors and audience “within touching distance,” he said. “I liked to find whatever sense of warmth and connection and love that was the underlying current of any production that I was creating.”
A good example is the 2002 Vermont Stage production of Waiting for Godot, which Nash directed. The Samuel Beckett play, in which two men wait for a third who never arrives, “is usually thought of as kind of a nihilistic play full of despair … and it is supposed to underline the absurdity of life,” Nash said. Under his direction, “I made it into these two guys, no matter how hopeless life was, they still supported each other.”
In that vein, life has imitated art at Vermont Stage. When the company hit rough patches, donors repeatedly stepped up to support it, as when it nearly folded in the 2004-05 season. Vermont Stage had grown from offering one or two shows a year to four-show subscription seasons, Nash said, but was struggling to gain name
recognition. Some patrons thought it was part of the Flynn.
“We just hadn’t quite figured out how to balance income and expenses, and we were on this steep learning curve that led to a point where we weren’t sure we could mount our [next] season,” Nash said. He “put out an emergency call” for support.
Contributions flowed in, followed by “a fairly substantial anonymous donation,” Nash said. “A few years later, somebody showed up out of the blue and wiped out our last bit of debt.”
WE LIVE IN WILDLY UNCERTAIN TIMES RIGHT NOW, AND SO WE’RE GOING TO KEEP MAKING THEATER IN RESPONSE TO THAT.
MARIA MCGRATH
Now a Charlotte psychotherapist, Nash returned to Vermont Stage last year to perform in the 20th rendition of the anthology “Winter Tales,” a tradition he started in 2005.
In 2011, he passed the producing artistic director baton to Alicea, previously the assistant to the managing director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, D.C. She set out to focus on cutting-edge contemporary plays. Among them were the first Vermont production of Fun Home, the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name; The Mountaintop, Katori Hall’s reimagining of the night before Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination; Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike; and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People, presented by Vermont Stage just two years after it opened on Broadway. By 2020, the company was financially stable and on track to bring in $538,000 in revenue, nearly double what it had during Alicea’s first year.
“We had real momentum going,” she said.
The company had just moved its productions to Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center and was set to launch Vermont Stage Youth Company when COVID-19 arrived. Marie and Rosetta, a musical selling well, closed mid-run, and Vermont Stage announced it would shutter for a year. Everyone, including Alicea and general manager Jamien Forrest, was laid off.
The two administrators, hired the same year, believed the company would reopen but questioned whether they could return. The pandemic had slashed the budget in half, essentially wiping out the gains they had made. Alicea asked herself, “Do I want to push this boulder back up this hill?” Both she and Forrest decided to try.
A virtual “Winter Tales” in 2020 and two outdoor “picnic plays” in 2021 provided a gradual reopening as Vermont Stage strove to adapt. The company adopted a new ticketing model that lets buyers pick their price. It’s built on goodwill, and it’s working, Alicea said. “It’s like giving the community of people here the opportunity to do good, and they’re choosing to do it.”
Donors, too, continue to step up. One gave $100,000 over the course of two postpandemic seasons to help cover lost ticket sales. Last season, an anonymous $50,000 gift arrived “out of nowhere” just as donations were falling behind, Alicea said. “Donors are called angels for a reason!”
To rein in expenses last summer, Alicea furloughed five administrators, herself included. This July, she cut her hours and those of Forrest, the only other full-time staffer.
“I can’t say strongly enough the level of love and commitment that the people working for this company have,” board member McGrath said.
The tick, tick… BOOM! audience gave Vermont Stage its mandate: Keep making shows. “We just continue looking forward,” McGrath said. Last year, the company launched a program that brings discussionprovoking social justice plays to Vermont schools.
The 2024 numbers were scarier than usual, McGrath acknowledged, but small nonprofits always walk a tightrope. After
The Garbologists: A veteran New York City trash collector is paired with an Ivy League-educated newbie in Lindsay Joelle’s odd-couple comedy. Thursdays through Sundays, September 25 to October 12.
“Winter Tales”: Hot cider and cookies pair with moving stories and music in this beloved Vermont Stage tradition. Wednesday, December 10, to Sunday, December 14.
Murder on the Orient Express: Famed detective Hercule Poirot is on the case in Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of the Agatha Christie thriller. Thursdays through Sundays, January 29 to February 22.
The Half-Life of Marie Curie: Lauren Gunderson’s historical drama is based on the true story of the Nobel Prize winner who was chastised over an alleged affair. Thursdays through Sundays, March 19 to April 5.
Rhinoceros: A small town’s residents turn into rhinos in Eugène Ionesco’s cutting social satire. Thursdays through Sundays, April 30 to May 17.
The Bake Off: Three playwrights each whip up a brand-new short play inspired by a classic, staged by three separate casts and directors. Wednesday, June 17, to Sunday, June 21.
All shows at Main Street Landing in Burlington. Single tickets $34-54; season subscriptions $119-317. vermontstage.org
ending 2024 with a $177,500 deficit, Vermont Stage bounced back to finish its 2025 fiscal year, on June 30, about $10,000 in the black. The future of Vermont Stage “feels as solid as anything else in the United States right now,” McGrath said. “We’re going to keep going. But we live in wildly uncertain times right now, and so we’re going to keep making theater in response to that.”
Alicea did not tell anyone in the tick, tick… BOOM! cast and crew how badly the company needed the show to do well. “It’s not their burden,” she said.
Cummings and his fellow actors, Kianna Bromley of Montpelier and Connor Kendall of South Burlington, performed their preshow routines and then gathered in a tight huddle backstage just before each show began.
They could hear the audience buzzing as they held hands, took deep breaths and reminded themselves why the show was important. Then they made eye contact: three “partners in crime,” as Bromley called them, who had developed deep trust and had each other’s backs lest anything go wrong. ➆
INFO
Learn more at vermontstage.org
Northern Stage in White River Junction puts on five shows a year, ranging from two-actor plays to big Disney productions with 30 actors, musicians, designers, technicians and carpenters. Most of those people are from outside Vermont; managing director Jason Smoller estimates that 70 percent of each show’s cast and crew travels from elsewhere. Sta includes another 34 people.
Where to house all those folks in a village of 2,800? Founded in 1997, Northern Stage has grappled with the housing question for visiting artists and local sta since its permanent home, Barrette Center for the Arts, opened in 2015.
The company just completed its solution by building three new houses of six apartments each, just steps from the theater. Collectively, the studios and one- and twobedroom units can house 24 people. That’s in addition to three extant buildings that Northern Stage purchased over the past eight years, each with four or five units: two houses on the same street as the new housing and an apartment building around the corner from the theater.
The new build, a project of Bread Loaf Corporation of Middlebury, which also built the theater, echoes the gables and orientation of the adjacent theater-owned houses. It includes landscaping and a pocket park in front that gives the ensemble a “village campus feel,” said Smoller, 38, who recently took Seven Days on a walking tour. The pale yellow and light gray structures looked modern and inviting, with the
third still receiving finishing touches from a work crew.
Smoller led me past the fully occupied first building and into the second through a private entrance to a one-bedroom, which was in the midst of being furnished. The units’ layouts are clean and simple, with full kitchens and spacious bathrooms. Rooms are painted white with colorful accent walls. All the buildings are pet-friendly; the stairs are uncarpeted, and the backyard holds a fenced dog park.
The complex sits against a tall embankment to the west, architect Jim Pulver noted by phone, so “What was really critical in my mind was high ceiling spaces and large windows.”
every theater is thinking about housing. It’s a problem across the U.S.,” Spector said. Cristina Alicea, producing artistic director of Vermont Stage in Burlington (see page 38), agreed. “Every theater in every place thinks about it,” she said. It’s a particularly urgent problem in Vermont, she continued: “It’s such a rural state, and there’s very little housing stock here. And, per capita, there are very few artists who live here.”
Vermont Stage is not a full Equity house, as are Northern Stage and a handful of other Vermont theater companies. It focuses on hiring local talent and does guest-artist contracts with Actors’ Equity Association for some shows, housing the visitors in short-term rentals.
“If you’re going to a place for six weeks, the more comfortable you are, the better you can do your job,” he said. The short walk to work, he added, means “I can go [home] to lunch really quickly. I don’t have to go out.”
Actors’ Equity Association requires that its members have safe and private free housing while working away from home, which was one pressing reason to build.
IF YOU’RE GOING TO A PLACE FOR SIX WEEKS, THE MORE COMFORTABLE YOU ARE, THE BETTER YOU CAN DO YOUR JOB.
KYLE BRAND
Kyle Brand moved into the new housing when he started his job in company management in July. He is one of 21 sta members who live in company housing. His neighbors currently include the music director, stage manager and two actors in Come From Away, a musical that will open the season on September 24.
Brand, 38, spent 11 years performing and working in New York City after getting an undergraduate degree in musical theater and has acted in, choreographed and directed shows at Northern Stage for a decade. He appreciates the new housing, which he called “rare.”
Depending on the show, actors stay for up to three months; designers and technicians might need housing for a week.
Previously, Northern Stage rented housing, including the structures it now owns and houses in surrounding settlements such as Quechee. The latter setup required providing a car.
“Renting was the concern,” explained board of directors chair Jon Spector of Woodstock, who joined the board in 2020, when the organization was getting ready to launch an $8.2 million capital campaign.
“We were thinking that rents are high and going up, and if we had our own housing we could control that. It will cost us less in the long run, and we’ll have certainty.”
Spector started chairing the finance committee in 2022. The capital campaign eventually brought in $8.5 million, of which $6.25 million went toward construction.
“Our management team tells us that
Alicea said, “It’s one of my daydreams” for Vermont Stage to buy a multifamily property and sustain it by renting one or two of its units year-round to local residents. The company’s annual budget is $600,000 per year; Northern Stage’s is $4.5 million.
Though Northern Stage itself sits in Hartford Town, which encompasses the villages of Hartford, Quechee, West Hartford, White River Junction and Wilder and almost 11,000 people, its larger catchment area of 80,000 people includes some of the area’s wealthiest towns, such as Woodstock, Norwich and Hanover, N.H. Plaques in the theater lobby commemorating donors for the capital campaign list four families or family foundations that contributed at least $500,000.
Donors “who are really committed” to having high-quality professional theater in the area are one reason the project succeeded, Spector said. The other is a board that works well with theater management. “We know our management team is able to produce a product that people trust,” he said. “In a rural part of the country, that’s a gift.”
Ticket sales for the 240-seat theater confirm that audiences appreciate the high level of productions. Beauty and the Beast ran for six weeks last winter and sold 99 percent of its seats, Spector said, adding that “a drama that people don’t know about might be 70 or 75 percent sold.”
Spector noted that Northern Stage shows impress even veterans of the industry, including a man who helped originate Cats on Broadway, next to whom Spector found himself seated at Northern Stage’s Beauty and the Beast
“He turned to me and said, ‘How can you do this in the middle of nowhere?’ This was someone who knows intimately the way Broadway works,” Spector recalled. “People here understand this is pretty unusual, and they want to keep it going.” ➆
Learn more at northernstage.org.
Vermont Sake launches the state’s first sake brewery in Monkton
STORY & PHOTOS BY JORDAN BARRY jbarry@sevendaysvt.com
Hazy IPAs. Cider. Sake. They’re all drinks you think of when you think of Vermont, right? Or not. With a sly dig at that reversal of expectations, Vermont Sake’s labels inform consumers that while a local take on Japan’s traditional rice wine might not be top of mind, it does exist.
In the spring, Vermont Sake o cially became the state’s first and only licensed sake brewery. Andrew Baker and Diana Hill bottled their inaugural batch of #7 Junmai — produced from rice, koji, yeast and Addison County well water — in March. In August, they started vending at the Bristol and Shelburne farmers markets, introducing the biz to Vermonters with bottles and samples.
Baker and Hill are used to carving out niches in the beverage industry. In 2021, the couple started Vermont’s first certified bird-friendly co ee company, Ridge Vermont Craft Roasters. Now the converted garage beside their Monkton home is half co ee roastery, half sake brewery. Even as craft producers go, Vermont Sake is tiny. The whole garage is just over 500 square feet, and the sake operation loses a corner to a treadmill. But
with a couple of stainless-steel tanks, a temperature-controlled koji tent and custom-built gadgets throughout, the pair is adding something unique to the world of Vermont-made booze.
Baker and Hill, both 36, traveled to Japan when they were eighth graders at Rutland Middle School. The long-running Rutland Ishidoriya Student Exchange
brought them across the world for two weeks, and they hosted students from Japan in return.
“We didn’t fall in love with sake then,” Hill said with a laugh. But over the years, the couple — who started dating early in high school — expanded their appreciation for Japanese culture to its more than 2,000-year-old signature booze.
“Now we’ve tried them all,” Hill said, noting that it’s been easier to find sake in Vermont over the past year or two.
Craft sake started making waves in the U.S. in the mid-2010s. In 2024, the Sake Brewers Association of North America reported 27 producers across the continent.
The local market’s growth reflects the popularity of Japanese food in the U.S.; casual izakaya spots and Michelin-starred omakase restaurants are all the rage in big cities. But it also results from slumping domestic consumption in Japan, where the number of sake breweries is roughly a third of what it was at its 1970s peak, Forbes reported last year.
Eventually, Baker’s interest in the drink turned into learning all he could about its manufacture from books, documentaries and podcasts. Three years ago, he brewed his first batch.
“If I like something, I want to do it myself,” he said.
While it’s frequently called “rice wine,” sake is technically brewed, making it closer to beer, process-wise. Baker was already familiar with that style of fermentation, having dabbled in homebrewing over the years. For sake specifics, he visited Farthest Star Sake in Medfield, Mass., the only other sake company in New England, to learn the ropes.
During the brewing process, enzymes must convert starch into sugar before yeast can break it down into alcohol and carbon dioxide. For beer, that happens via grain malting. Sake starts with rice that’s already been milled down, so it needs a slightly di erent helping hand.
Enter koji, a mold formally known as Aspergillus oryzae. Besides being sake’s “magic ingredient,” Baker said, it’s used to ferment soybeans for soy sauce and miso.
Baker spreads steamed rice on trays and inoculates it with the koji, sourced directly from Japan. Then the trays go into a temperature-controlled tent at 104 degrees for 48 hours. He mixes the contents every couple of hours, even through the night. As the koji develops, the rice transforms from starchy to sweet and chestnut-flavored, he said.
Baker adds the mixture to brewing tanks, along with freshly steamed rice, water and yeast. He lets the yeast work for two days before second and third additions
After more than a year of dark and quiet, the fully equipped vinyl bar at 388 Pine Street in Burlington’s South End will be reborn by mid-October as DOMA BAR SADIE WILLIAMS told Seven Days she will open her business in the space Paradiso Hi-Fi occupied from November 2022 to August 2024, serving a succinct snack menu; cocktails; and a small list of beer, wine and other drinks — all ordered at the bar. She plans to have DJs spinning vinyl three nights a week and other rotating events.
Paradiso. When that business closed permanently, Larry retained its assets, including its high-fidelity sound system.
Sadie did freelance marketing for the Dedalus group for several years and knew both businesses well. “I loved this space,” she said of the vinyl bar.
“I wanted to do my own project and didn’t want to reinvent the wheel.”
Doma’s lead cook, EMILY CALHOON, ran lunch service at Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar in Burlington, the now-defunct sister business to Paradiso, which was replaced by LA REPRISE. Doma’s menu may include shrimp cocktail, soft pretzels and stuffed fried olives. The cocktail menu will be split evenly between traditional drinks, low-alcohol aperitivos and zero-proof options, Williams said.
Williams, 35, is opening the business in partnership with her father, LARRY WILLIAMS, who was an investor in
Armed with a business plan, financial proposal and brand identity, she pitched her dad.
The 50-seat Doma will cultivate a slightly different vibe from Paradiso, Sadie said.
She’s changing lighting and adding warmer textures, envisioning the music as a backdrop to friendly gatherings.
“One of the things I thought this place wanted to be was a living room,” she said.
“More like, ‘Do you wanna come over to my house?’”
Follow @domabarvt on Instagram for updates.
MELISSA PASANEN
on subsequent days. The whole brew takes about a month.
Baker does the rice steaming outside using a 15-gallon brew kettle to steam 20 pounds at a time over a propane burner — unless it’s too cold or mosquito-y, in which case he’ll head to the porch.
The aroma is intoxicating, Hill said. The local wildlife seems to agree: A bear showed up when Baker steamed the very first batch.
While rice can be grown in Vermont, Baker has turned to Isbell Farms in Arkansas, the state where more than half the rice in the U.S. is produced. The multigenerational family farm specializes in sake-specific varieties such as Yamada Nishiki, Omachi and Gohyakumangoku.
The rice Baker uses is 70-percent milled, meaning that 30 percent of the grain was removed during milling, taking away the outer layer of fat and protein and leaving pure starch. So far, he’s worked with Yamada Nishiki and Titan, a medium-grain American variety.
At the end of the 30-day brew, Baker clarifies the slurry-like mixture — called doburoku — with a vacuum filter and distills a small sample to determine the alcohol content. Legally, it can’t be above 16 percent, so the final product might require dilution. He then presses the whole batch to remove the grains of rice and bottles the resulting sake.
All of Vermont Sake’s products are pasteurized at least once after bottling — most before bottling, too. Pasteurization stabilizes the sake’s delicate flavors and gives it a yearslong shelf life; an opened, recapped bottle will stay good for weeks in the fridge.
Compared with bold wines and hoppy IPAs, sake is a subtle beverage. Vermont Sake’s tasting notes entice drinkers to look for “banana, spice and happiness” in a batch of #7 Junmai — named for the “understated” #7 sake yeast strain Baker used and the style, junmai, with its four simple ingredients. A batch of #9 Junmai — brewed with Yamada Nishiki and Titan rice and #9 sake yeast — has “more exciting fruity aromas” and “notes of honey dew and whimsical joy.”
“I’m not really trying to target traditional tastes,” Baker said. “If it tastes good, it’s like, All right, that’s batch #4.”
Between Hill’s focus on the coffee business, Baker’s full-time engineering job and the couple’s 3-year-old son, Vermont Sake is “a night gig, weekend gig, wee morning gig,” Hill said. “But it’s so fun to work together.”
They’ve also got a wine project in the works, if the raccoons ever leave their home vineyard’s 11 varieties of cold-hardy hybrid grapes alone long enough for a significant harvest.
“The idea is to make wine when we have grapes, make sake when we don’t,” Baker said.
Whether sake is more like wine or beer is an issue the couple often have to address, Baker said — even during the brewery’s licensing process. Sake is taxed like a beer, but its labeling is regulated like a wine, and the State of Vermont views it as the latter.
For now, Vermont Sake is self-distributed. Baker and Hill had their first tasting appointments at local shops and bars last week, and they plan to continue vending at farmers markets. They sell the 330-milliliter bottles for $15 each or $56 for a four-pack.
COMPARED WITH BOLD WINES AND HOPPY IPAS, SAKE IS A SUBTLE BEVERAGE.
They’ve had repeat customers already and plenty of questions about the sake-making process, which Baker answers with a delightfully nerdy enthusiasm.
At the Shelburne Farmers Market in late August, he talked about milling rates, pasteurization and titratable acidity while
pouring tastes of Vermont Sake’s first four releases, recommending pairings with Japanese food, pasta or pizza. The sake is served cold, but he may rig up a warming station for cold-weather market sips, he said.
When curious customers wandered up to the booth, Baker asked, “Are you a sake drinker?”
“Not really, but I’d like to be,” one replied.
“You can water the grass with it if you don’t like it,” Baker said, handing over a tiny plastic cup of #7 Junmai.
The grass didn’t stand a chance. ➆
Learn more and find an up-to-date list of where to purchase at vermontsake.com.
SERVING UP FOOD NEWS « P.43
A new café is set to take flight at Burlington International Airport. The week of September 15, KESTREL COFFEE ROASTERS will open its fourth location directly above security on the second floor of the main terminal.
CHARLOTTE STEVERSON, who owns Kestrel with her husband, JOHNNY, said the airport spot will be “very much the same” as Kestrel’s other locations. The couple opened their main roastery, café and production kitchen in South Burlington’s Technology Park in 2018. Burlington cafés on Maple and Pine streets followed in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
The airport menu will feature drip coffee, espresso drinks, chai, matcha and creative seasonal specials. Food options include sandwiches, snacks, and Kestrel’s popular ham-and-egg breakfast sandwiches on housemade biscuits. Breakfast burritos, a new addition, will hit the menu at the downtown cafés this week.
At BTV, travelers will be able to place online orders in advance and pick them up when they make it through security, Steverson said. The café will open at 4 a.m. and close at roughly 8 p.m., following the flight schedule. As at other Kestrel locations, tips won’t be accepted.
The Steversons learned they’d won the airport’s competitive requestfor-proposals process this time last year. Contractors began assembling the spot — something between a kiosk and a full-scale café — on September 2 and built most of it in a week, Steverson said.
“We love representing Vermont,” she said. “It’s stressful to travel, and we’re going to provide amazing hospitality for people, whether to welcome them home or send them on their way.”
JORDAN BARRY
After 11 years, the Gryphon has closed its doors at 131 Main Street in Burlington. A sign posted on the door over the
weekend said the restaurant “will be closed indefinitely,” and a social media post on Sunday confirmed the news.
“Although we have been blessed with the loyalty of our friends and patrons, after facing this trying past year, it is with a heavy heart that the Gryphon has turned down our lights and closed our doors for the last time,” the post read.
The Gryphon’s elegant dining room was a popular preshow dinner stop for customers headed down the block to the Flynn. It served a broadly appealing “eclectic American” menu, classic cocktails and Sunday brunch.
In April, owner THOMAS CHADWICK created a GoFundMe to support the restaurant, citing “financial distress” due to the city’s ongoing Great Streets
BTV construction on Main Street. The effort raised $1,838 of the $50,000 goal. Chadwick previously worked as a financial adviser in New London, N.H. He was stripped of his license and ordered to pay $1 million in fees and $4.85 million in restitution to his “mostly older, conservative-to-moderate risk” clients in New Hampshire and Vermont in April 2024, after a multiyear investigation by the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation, according to its press release. The Bureau accused him of investment fraud resulting in more than $11 million in client losses, according to NH Journal.
In June, the Journal reported that Chadwick had not yet paid the court-ordered restitution. J.B.
DAN UKOLOWICZ and KARA PAWLUSIAK have announced the upcoming closure of their 11-year-old SIMPLE ROOTS BREWING and its tasting room at 1127 North Avenue in Burlington’s Ethan Allen Shopping Center. They expect to continue serving with normal hours through October, as their beer supply allows. A final special event is planned for Saturday, October 11.
The couple launched their brewery in 2014 in their New North End garage and expanded in 2016 to the shopping center taproom with an on-site brewing facility.
Ukolowicz, 49, a former high school biology teacher, worked full time for the brewery for eight years before landing a job with Beta Technologies just over a year ago, his wife said. At that time, Simple Roots contracted with 14TH STAR BREWING in St. Albans to brew beer for distribution, while Ukolowicz continued to brew for the taproom. Pawlusiak, 46, worked as a school counselor the whole time.
She attributed the closure to declining sales, mentioning causal factors such as locals’ reduced alcohol consumption and tighter budgets and “a noticeable drop” in tourist traffic.
“The hardest part for us is closing an incredible community space where people have gathered for many years,” Pawlusiak said. M.P.
Less than a year after buying NORTH COUNTRY DONUTS in Morrisville, owners DAN GWALTNEY and his wife, JESSICA PALMER-GWALTNEY, have invested in the operation’s first commercial-scale doughnut fryer, enabling them to increase production and distribute beyond their 73 Lower Main Street shop. The expansion starts with a series of Donuts After Dark evening pop-ups on September 10 and 22 and October 1 and 13, all at RED POPPY CAKERY at 1 Elm Street in Waterbury.
If the events go well, Gwaltney, 43, said, they could become weekly. “We want to spread the doughnut awareness.”
He said the bakery will also establish satellite pickup locations for weekend preorders, starting with one at Bridgeside Books in Waterbury and possibly expanding to Montpelier and Berlin or Barre.
Since taking over the bakery, Gwaltney said, he has introduced cinnamon rolls; a cereal line made with Rice Krispies and Cocoa Pebbles; and what he calls “supreme doughnuts,” such as cookie doughnuts with embedded chocolate chip cookies and Black Forest cake doughnuts made with chocolate cake. Classics such as maple-bacon, Boston cream and cinnamon sugar continue to sell briskly, he said.
Early on Sunday mornings, when many people are still barely awake, Matthew Danforth of MJs Barbecue is usually standing in the grass behind Roma’s Butchery in Royalton, tending a pair of black barrel smokers.
week is extremely hard. Some nights you get nobody. Some nights you are slammed. It’s hard to predict.”
Roma’s supplies some of the meat that Tetrault and Danforth dry rub, wet brine and smoke each week. “ ey go through a lot more beef and pork than we can supply,” she said. MJs sources the rest direct from local farms, such as Robie Farm in Piermont, N.H.
and sunflower, and instead fries in beef tallow, even at quadruple the cost. “If we’re not going to feed it to our kids,” Danforth said, “we’re not going to feed it to the public.”
“Those are pork belly burnt ends,” Danforth, 36, said as he lifted the lid to reveal the caramelized morsels sometimes called meat candy for their sticky crust and molten interiors. They’d sell out over the next two days, as would the fork-tender brisket, pulled pork and chicken that Danforth and his business partner, Jashua Tetrault, 35, sell at Roma’s each Sunday and Monday from noon until all the smoky, locally sourced meat has been snapped up.
MJs is the latest pop-up to take up residence at Roma’s, packing boxes with aromatic barbecue for customers to take home or eat in the historic building’s cozy dining room or on the back deck. In the spring, Roma’s owner and butcher, Elizabeth Roma, invited the pair to use her shop’s kitchen. “Initially, we were going to go food truckin’, and [then] this incredible opportunity came around,” Danforth said. “It’s been full throttle ever since.”
“It’s a good model,” said Roma, who has hosted several chefs and pop-ups since opening five years ago. “Running a restaurant in Vermont for five or six days a
MJs is a redux for the partners, who previously ran a catering company in North Haverhill, N.H., called Hawg’s Catch. at business closed four years ago, due in part to the pandemic. e Roma’s invitation prompted a new venture. Rolling out a pair of custom-built smokers, the men began serving there at the end of April.
When pressed to categorize their style, Danforth said their brisket has “very, very simple” Texas roots, while the pulled pork leans toward a tangy Carolina style. Mostly, he said, they aim for simplicity with a definite New England touch: maple syrup in place of sugar and maple wood in the smoker, where they slow-cook local meats for up to 14 hours.
“Once we started firing maple wood, it just started clicking,” Danforth said. “It’s a lighter smoke, not a deep heavy smoke. I smoked chicken with hickory one time, and all you could taste was the smoke.”
MJs also eschews seed oils, such as soy
e resulting sweet potato fries ($5) are luscious. Brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken are sold by the pound ($19 to $28), as plates ($17 to $19), on sandwiches with housemade potato buns ($10 to $14), atop baked potatoes ($8 to $10), or loaded onto mac and cheese ($6 to $14). e brisket and beef or pork burnt ends ($25 per pound) usually sell out first. Maple milkshakes ($6) occasionally make an appearance, and sides ($2 to $5) include corn bread, coleslaw and fruit. MJs has added a Saturday pizza night, slinging cheese pies ($12) and versions topped with barbecued meat ($15 to $17).
A decade after he began smoking, Danforth reflected on what he’s learned the hard way: Use good ingredients, and don’t over-season. If you get too elaborate, he said, “You’ll start to taste the seasonings and won’t appreciate the meat.” ➆
MJs Barbecue at Roma’s Butchery, 5615 Route 14, Royalton, noon-7 p.m. every Sunday and Monday or until sold out, 788-8101, mjsbarbecue.net
e
BY TRACY BRANNSTROM
Whether it’s the thrill of watching trapeze artists soar or the mesmerizing rhythm of a juggler’s hands, the circus has always o ered a kind of magic. But in an increasingly fraught time, can that magic do more than dazzle? Can the circus, with its bright canvas tents and aerial silks, foster new points of connection in a distressed town? In November, the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro aims to find out with the inaugural Vermont Circus Festival.
The weeklong program features dozens of workshops and classes at the circus training center and locations around Brattleboro, along with performances by national circus performers as well as students and alumni from the school.
The festival, which runs November 2 to
9, grew out of a smaller series of workshops that the school hosted in prior years, which steadily drew more attendees. Cofounder and producing director Serenity Smith Forchion sees the expanded event as a way to increase community access to the arts — and to shift the narrative around Brattleboro, a town she said is often defined by its challenges with homelessness, addiction and other social issues.
“Brattleboro, like many small towns, is really struggling,” she said. “But there are so many beautiful stories about what’s happening here, too, and we need more of these stories.” Circus, she added, can be part of that shift: “As an art form, it’s joyful. And joy is something people need in order
to very pedestrian moments where they’re just in character, interacting with each other,” Parallel Exit artistic director Mark Lonergan said.
“We love to explore ‘simple magic,’” he said of his troupe. “We’re not trying to make the Statue of Liberty disappear like David Copperfield. What’s of interest to us is, there’s something visual we can do that tricks the audience’s eye and subverts their expectation.”
The spotlight then turns to the circus school’s own performers — past, present and still in training. The Alumni Cabaret on Saturday, November 8, is a showcase of seasoned circus artists returning to their training ground. And on Sunday, November 9, Beta Night o ers works in progress from current students, ranging from those just learning basic skills to advanced performers pushing the boundaries of circus artistry.
“It might be like going to an open mic at your local bar and having some local performers, but then, you know, Sting shows up,” Smith Forchion said.
Beyond the thrills of the main stage, much of the festival’s charm lies in the program’s smaller events and workshops. Among the highlights are figure-drawing classes with acrobat models at the Drawing Studio, a nonprofit community art center; and Silver Circus, non-cardio workout classes at the circus center that introduce older adults to basic circus skills.
Rob Mermin, founder of Circus Smirkus youth circus in Greensboro, will lead a discussion based on his book Circle of Sawdust: A Circus Memoir of Mud, Myth, Mirth, Mayhem, and Magic on Wednesday, November 5, at Brooks Memorial Library, followed by a talk on the history of circus in Vermont the following day at the 118 Elliot gallery.
to face the things that are not so joyful.”
Parallel Exit, a New York City physical theater and contemporary circus company, will perform its latest piece, I’LL TAKE IT, twice on Friday, November 7. It centers on three friends navigating the challenges of living together in a tiny space, represented onstage by a box roughly the size of a refrigerator. As the characters twist, contort and collide in their e orts to coexist, their friendship is pushed to a breaking point, forcing them to confront whether their bond can survive. The story unfolds entirely through movement.
“It has everything from very specialized circus techniques that performers worked on for years, like juggling, hand balancing and chair stacking, all the way
Mermin said circus arts are thriving in Vermont today, from the success of Smirkus and the New England Center for Circus Arts to the enduring appeal of the annual Festival of Fools street fair in Burlington. After Burlington City Arts canceled this year’s Festival of Fools due to funding losses, local businesses rallied to pay for a downsized Fools Block Party in August. Restaurateur Travis Walker-Hodkin, who helped spearhead the e ort, described the Burlington festival as “widely beloved.” In a comment paralleling Smith Forchion’s words about Brattleboro, he said he viewed the smaller block party as a way to uplift a beleaguered downtown.
Now, Festival of Fools cofounder Woody Keppel and others are planning a new event for 2026 called Feast of Fools and will host a sneak-preview mini festival on Sunday, September 21, at Camp Meade in Middlesex. According to Keppel, it will feature
Medieval Europe had an official day to misbehave: the Feast of Fools. Sanctioned by the church, the annual New Year’s Day celebration turned the social order upside down: Clergy wore jester’s hats while commoners mocked church rituals and court ceremonies. Bawdy songs, satirical skits and a gigantic feast offered a much-needed escape from the rigid rules of daily life.
“It served as a release of social tensions,” said Vermont performer Woody Keppel, cofounder of Burlington’s streetperformance fair, Festival of Fools.
Keppel, along with Russ Bennett of Camp Meade and the Planetary Art Institute, is reviving that spirit with a one-day Feast of Fools circus celebration on Sunday, September 21, at Camp Meade in Middlesex. The event is a lively preview
of a larger, three-day festival planned for fall 2026.
Highlights include two performances by the Red Trouser Show, a high-energy acrobatic duo of Circus Smirkus alumni David Graham and Tobin Renwick; music by the Hokum Bros., known for their eccentric, vaudeville-inspired, folk-meets-Americana sound; and Brass Balagan, a raucous street band that blends klezmer, Balkan brass and revolutionary spirit, born in the drum circles of Occupy Wall Street.
There’s also face painting and kids’ art with ONE Arts Center, a community mixer hosted by Montpelier Alive, an artisan market, and eats from Woodbelly Pizza and the Local wine and beer shop.
Feast of Fools Circus, Sunday, September 21, noon to 5 p.m., at Camp Meade in Middlesex. Suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for kids. info@campmeade. today or 1.800.FOOLERY
“world-class variety and circus acts, art, music, and mayhem.” (See sidebar.)
Parallel Exit’s Lonergan, a former Circus Smirkus creative director, noted that the rise of circus’ popularity in Vermont is part of a broader national trend. That’s been helped in part by organizations such as the American Circus Alliance — a nonprofit he cofounded five years ago with Smith Forchion and other performers — which helped spark a wave of new circus festivals in cities such as Philadelphia and Ithaca, N.Y., this year.
Of course, no circus would be complete without clowns. Vermont Circus Festival attendees can ice-skate for free with the circus school’s clowns (red noses provided) at Nelson Withington Skating Facility on Sunday, November 2, or meet up at Pliny Park on Friday, November 7, for the Clown Crawl. The latter welcomes “anyone who identifies as a clown and those who love them,” according to the festival program.
Clowns, Smith Forchion noted, have long provided more than just comic relief.
They can be cultural truth tellers with the power to challenge, reflect and even heal. “Across many societies, they were approved to say things that nobody else could say without fear of punishment,” she said. That kind of honesty, she believes, can be disarming — a way to open dialogue, ease tension and help communities see themselves more clearly.
It’s a spirit that runs through the festival, which, for Smith Forchion, is ultimately about strengthening Brattleboro — bringing joy, connection and a renewed sense of possibility to a town grappling with housing insecurity and other marks of inequity.
“I know I, singlehandedly in my role, can’t change things like the lack of housing in Brattleboro,” she said, “but what I can do is make this a more positive place to live.” ➆
Vermont Circus Festival, Sunday, November 2, through Sunday, November 9, at various locations in Brattleboro. Various prices; some events are free. necenterforcircusarts.org
The People’s Project, a
new anthology of essays, poetry and visual art, offers a practical guide to surviving fascism
BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com
Aweek after the 2024 presidential election, Maggie Smith, award-winning writer, poet and author of Good Bones , started a note on her smartphone titled “My Own Project 2025.” It contained her list of intentions for the coming year and beyond, starting with “No self-abandonment.”
When Smith texted the list to her friend Saeed Jones, himself an award-winning poet and author, the pair soon realized that their casual conversation about Donald Trump’s reelection could evolve into something more: a blueprint for surviving an unprecedented era in American politics.
What emerged from their collaboration is The People’s Project: Poems, Essays, and Art for Looking Forward, a new anthology from 27 poets, writers and artists — or, as Jones described it in a recent Seven Days interview, “a community in book form.” Compiled over six weeks in January and February — lightning speed by publishing standards — the sleek and accessible volume offers a range of voices, perspectives and reflections on themes both contemporary and timeless, from parenting trans children to the historical absence of women leaders in fascist regimes.
Alexander Chee’s essay “Let’s All Stay Alive” recounts his family’s flight from what would become North Korea in the 1950s. Patricia Smith’s “Chile, I’m Not Playing With You! Look at It!” describes her mother’s use of a now-famous photo of Emmett Till to teach a young Black girl the proper response to a Southern white man. “Dead Emmett was lesson,” Smith writes. “This is what white people will do to you if you don’t act right.”
Smith, Jones and Chee will be at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington on Saturday, September 13, for a book reading and community forum. Smith, 48, and Jones, 39, spoke to Seven Days by video call from their homes in Ohio and Massachusetts, respectively.
In the introduction, you write, “Our past has become the very Present we desperately hoped we had outrun.” What do you mean by that?
SAEED JONES: I’ve been doing a lot of archival research on another book I’m working on, so it’s really striking to read correspondences between Black women writers — June Jordan, Toni Cade Bombara, Toni Morrison — who are talking about the exact same things.
A few months ago, during all the news about Iran, I was reading a June Jordan piece she wrote about Iran in the 1970s. At the time I was struck by how this all feels unprecedented and unfathomable to us. But honestly, “History is a series of strange loops,” as the writer Michael R. Jackson says. That’s part of the wisdom of this book. This is shocking and scary, but if we really dig deep and we look back, we can tap into that historical consistency.
How did you select your contributors?
MAGGIE SMITH: We started by thinking: Who are the people we have access to and are close to in our own lives? Who else would I want to get a call or voice memo or text or piece of work from right now because I think they can offer me something in this moment that I desperately need? The challenge was, I could think of a lot of people, but we wanted to keep this book
slim. So it became a conversation about who is coming to our literary dinner party.
What prompts did you give them?
SJ: Initially, Maggie and I were texting a lot about Project 2025, so that’s where it all started.
But Jenny [Xu, senior editor at Washington Square Press] said, “Let’s go bigger. We don’t want this to be a book that, a year from now, doesn’t feel relevant.” I think we accomplished our goal. You’ll be able to read these essays 50 years from now. So one prompt was, “What is some wisdom from your family or your ancestors that you feel would be useful to share?”
who think and vote di erently from me in my family and community. But the fi rst item was the big umbrella, and everything else fell underneath it.
Once you allow yourself to not be estranged from your own values, once you decide that you’re not going to negotiate any of that with people in your life, regardless of what role they play, everything else sort of falls into place.
SJ: I think about Maggie’s piece in which she writes, “We will not disappear ourselves, the way we will not allow others to be disappeared.” It’s intense, but it’s clarifying.
Before reading it, I assumed the book would be a practical guide to resisting Trump 2.0, sort of an Anarchist Cookbook for the age of ICE raids. But it reads more like a personal survival guide.
MS: It is a personal survival guide. Art, in its own way, is a practical way to survive trouble — and to make good trouble.
SJ: I was happy when I realized how slim the book is. I love slim books that you can just tuck in your back pocket and walk around with. I envision someone on their way to a protest. They’re on the subway or the bus, they’re alone, and their hands are shaking because it’s their first time going to a protest. I remember going to my first protest, which was Occupy Wall Street. I had to work up the nerve to go by myself. Wouldn’t it be nice to be like, “We’re doing this!” and then read Sam Sax’s poem [“Performance Scores for the Endings and Beginnings of Worlds”]? It’s like a tool kit for the interior life of the activist.
SD: It was chilling to read those words knowing that they were written before people started disappearing.
MS: And now they are. Despite the fact that I don’t have unilateral power to not allow ICE to kidnap people o the street, we don’t have to pretend it’s not happening. Another way of allowing people to be disappeared is to stay quiet.
IT’S LIKE A TOOL KIT FOR THE INTERIOR LIFE OF THE ACTIVIST.
SAEED JONES
SJ: Just yesterday, I was reading about firefighters who were dealing with a wildfire in California getting picked up by ICE in the middle of doing their work. They’re literally putting out a fire! They’re saving us!
MS: It’s not even a metaphor. It’s a literal fire. ➆
This interview was edited for clarity and length.
INFO
Maggie, what else did you have on your original Project 2025 list?
MS: It began with “No selfabandonment,” but the rest of the list got more specific to my personal life and the way I manage relationships with people
e People’s Project book reading and community discussion, Saturday, September 13, 7 p.m., at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington. $30. For tickets, visit phoenixbooks.biz.
e People’s Project: Poems, Essays, and Art for Looking Forward, Washington Square Press, 128 pages. $22.
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Musicians who love baroque music — a period spanning roughly 1600 to Johann Sebastian Bach’s death in 1750 — really love it. They study it in depth, perform it exclusively, and insist on historical singing techniques and period instruments — things like lutes, flauto traversos made of wood and violins strung with animal gut.
Audiences usually catch these highly specialized performances in major cities such as Boston, New York City, San Francisco and Montréal. That makes the Burlington Baroque Festival a remarkable affair. Now in its second year, the event opens on Thursday, September 18, with four concerts in four days by international experts, at the College Street Congregational Church. Eric Milnes leads the festival’s 54 performers, who include his Granby, Québec-based baroque ensemble L’Harmonie des saisons and the Burlington Baroque Festival Singers — a combination of singers from Vermont and L’Harmonie.
Milnes, a harpsichordist and organist, and his wife Mélisande Corriveau, a cellist and violist da gamba, are music director and artistic director, respectively, of L’Harmonie, which they founded in 2010. Milnes began coming to Burlington in 2020 for additional gigs as director of
the College Street Congregational choir and later the Vermont Choral Union. From the start, he envisioned a baroque festival in the Queen City; that came to pass last year in an inaugural fest that delighted sold-out audiences. Baroque music tends to have a driving rhythm and, rather like the churches of the same era, a fair amount of ornamentation. It generally focuses on a melody with the harmony led by a continuo — a through line played, in the case of L’Harmonie, by Milnes on the harpsichord.
This year’s music ranges from George Frideric Handel’s and Henry Purcell’s festive odes honoring Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, to Antonio Vivaldi’s ever-popular The Four Seasons to a concert of lesser-known French music written for King Louis XIV.
Milnes, who has a master’s degree in music from the Juilliard School and decades of experience with baroque ensembles around the world, puts his extensive historical knowledge about the works into program notes rather than addressing audiences during performances. By phone, however, his enthusiasm for the era was evident.
The opening concert, titled “Welcome to All the Pleasures!,” focuses on the two colossi of English baroque music: Purcell, a Londoner all his life, and Handel, who
“is of course the greatest non-English English composer ever,” Milnes quipped. Born in Germany, Handel spent twothirds of his life in London and wrote some of his most famous music there, including Messiah.
Commissions for Saint Cecilia Day abounded in the baroque era, Milnes added. “If we view music as a spiritual state, as I do, then Saint Cecilia ... represents the miracle that there is music at all.”
While Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the focus of the second concert, may sound familiar to many, Milnes’ twist is to put a different solo violinist on each concerto, highlighting L’Harmonie’s many highly skilled musicians.
The sound of the work played on gut-strung instruments may also be new to audiences. “The timbre, the transparency, the clarity of the sound is strikingly different” from modern metal or synthetic strings, Milnes said. “It’s less loud but more delicate and more dramatically expressive.”
Of the third concert, “Bach: The Cantor of Leipzig,” which features two of the composer’s 200-plus known cantatas, Milnes declared, “We do Bach the way he did: with eight singers and not 30 of them.
“There were no church choruses or choirs in Lutheran Germany,” he explained. “This notion of choirs singing Bach was invented in the 1870s” to imitate
the popularity and commercial viability of Handel’s large oratorios, he said.
Festival soprano Cathy Ellis Stadecker, a trademark lawyer and partner at Downs Rachlin Martin in Burlington, is president of the Burlington Baroque Festival board. She helped Milnes found the festival, including locating Vermonters to sing with the group. She’s performed professionally in New York, Boston, San Francisco and England and is a member of both the Vermont Choral Union and L’Harmonie.
“It’s really exciting to do [baroque music] with someone who’s at the level that Eric is at and with these really intense musicians,” Stadecker said. “He has such an energy that he brings and a standard that makes you want to do it the best that you can. It’s really been amazing that he’s located here now.”
Violinist Scott Metcalfe, who has played with Milnes for 40 years, including at last year’s festival, agrees. “The quality [of the Burlington Baroque Festival] is exceptionally high. Eric is such an asset; it’s tremendous that someone of his abilities and inspiration has wound up in Burlington. And he just loves to do music, to do performances. That’s the only reason we’re there. It’s not glitzy.”
Metcalfe, the son of late doyens of early music in Burlington — harpsichordist Liz and conductor-scholar Bill Metcalfe — artistic-directs Blue Heron, a Boston vocal
ERIC MILNES
ensemble specializing in Renaissance and medieval music. He will travel back from a fall residency at the Alamire Foundation in Belgium, where he is working on a new edition of the songs of a 15th-century composer, to play in Burlington Baroque. Metcalfe will serve as concertmaster on the last two concerts, including the fourth, “The Splendor of Versailles!,” which features his favorite: French baroque. Of all the strains of baroque, Metcalfe opined, French “requires the most specialized stylistic understanding in order to be effective. It’s filled with ornaments and all sorts of nuance that is not notated. If you don’t do all that stuff, the music loses its special beauty.”
The performance of such rarified music — especially that of the Sun King’s, aka King Louis XIV, extravagant Versailles court — evokes a stark contrast with Burlington’s current struggles with homelessness and addiction.
But for Milnes, the music is a way of coping for everyone. “Music took people out of the perceived horrors of everyday life then,” just as it does now, he said. “I personally believe it holds one of the most important places in humanity’s existence. If the life on the street or the country or the world continues to be horrifying to many, then maybe the music can provide a counterweight.” ➆
INFO
Burlington Baroque Festival, Thursday to Sunday, September 18 to 21, College Street Congregational Church in Burlington. $12.57-87.63; free for children under 18. burlingtonbaroque.org
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JIM SCHLEY
WHILE CELEBRATING “WANDERING” AS A PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLE, HOMESTEAD’S PROSE AMBLES HITHER AND YON.
political radical is more influential than ever. Homestead measures his own reaching for self-reliance and authenticity by his predecessor’s “pedagogy of listening”:
For Thoreau, the roots of knowledge, or a more complete knowing within the context of our not-knowing, emerges from listening inwardly and outwardly and living in sympathy with intelligence. To begin, we must “simplify.” We must practice listening when walking, or sauntering, and contemplate the voice and voices of nature … welcoming paradox and contradiction as fuel for critical thinking … integrating the poetic imagination with close observation …
The title of William Homestead’s most recent book suggests there’s value in bewilderment.
In Not Till We Are Lost: Thoreau, Education, and Climate Crisis, a finalist for this year’s Vermont Book Award in creative nonfiction, the Putney author praises uncertainty — in careers, relationships and creativity — for allowing us to embrace new possibilities.
In exploring these gifts of “lostness,” Homestead tries to harness different kinds of writing to illuminate two crises he sees as related: an educational crisis “in a world dominated by financial markets, job markets, and market-model universities” and a climate change emergency.
acute sense of being lost. Unfortunately, this author’s approach is all too often roundabout and meandering, jumping from topic to topic and episode to episode.
In its most enjoyable sections, Not Till We Are Lost proceeds like a memoir. As Homestead recounts his own unorthodox route through education and eventually into teaching, his chronicle is personal, not theoretical or didactic. As a youth, he aspired to be a writer but kept losing faith in schooling. He dropped out to hike the Appalachian Trail, followed a meditation teacher to New Mexico and took various jobs, many of them unfulfilling.
Maybe inevitably, given the contrarianism of his exemplar, Homestead kept struggling with formal education. After “seven years, three colleges, and four majors,” he graduated from Rutgers University in 1985 but with “no sense of accomplishment,” he writes, “… only a momentary sense of relief.”
Years of itinerant work followed, and the account of Homestead’s repeated attempts to return to school is interesting and moving. He taught as an adjunct for seven years, earned a couple of master’s degrees from the University of Montana, then landed a permanent job at New England College in Henniker, N.H., where he taught for 19 years before retiring in 2024. Along the way, he earned an MFA in creative writing from Vermont’s Goddard College in 2013.
The issues Homestead investigates are mind-boggling in their range and difficulty. What’s required is a structure that brings a reader step-by-step toward fresh clarity and insight, rather than inducing a more
Homestead’s early enthusiasm for the writings of Henry David Thoreau grew into a lifelong love, especially for the lucid, companionable Walden. He quotes passages from Thoreau throughout, offering plentiful evidence for why this innovative 19th-century essayist, naturalist and
The most captivating episodes in Not Till We Are Lost take place in classrooms, with conversations between Homestead and his students delivered in
dialogue.
“I don’t like talking about religion,” a disgruntled student says.
“Why is that?” I ask.
“I just don’t like it,” she insists with a frown.
“I’m not asking you to believe anything; I’m asking you to think critically about religious language and faith because religion and faith influence our world, whether we like it or not.” …
“I thought we were going to write a research paper about our future careers?” she questions, brow furrowed.
Also fascinating (and suspenseful) are Homestead’s recollections of how he succumbed to and then freed himself from a gambling compulsion, as well as his meditation on the allure and dangers of charismatic gurus. Testifying to his own experience, he memorably contrasts servitude to an idealized “master” with the mutual generosity of a mentoring relationship.
But Homestead’s vigorous first-person narrative is weighed down by scholarly logorrhea — an avalanche of citations from Thoreau, Socrates, Plato, Jesus, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Carl Jung, Rainer Maria Rilke, Mahatma Gandhi, James Hillman, James Baldwin, Rachel Carson, Chögyam Trungpa, Thich Nhat Hanh, Bill McKibben, Howard Gardner, John Gatto and many others.
And the book has a bizarre chronology, jumping in time and location from one chapter to another.
While celebrating “wandering” as a philosophical principle, Homestead’s prose ambles hither and yon, continuity be damned. A reader may be perplexed on the most basic level: “Who is who, and what’s happening here?” Again and again, this rambling style disrupts the emotional hold of a well-told story.
Through most of Not Till We Are Lost, the specific urgency of environmental collapse is mentioned only glancingly, but in the final chapter, it becomes more decisively the book’s focus.
“Sometimes I don’t know what to
teach,” Homestead admits. “I am lost, or at a loss, given that there is so much to teach and so little time to do right by the earth and ourselves to change course.”
At such moments, he continues, he draws guidance from the liberatory approach of Thoreau, who advised his schoolteacher sister that the most e ective way to help a student learn was to place her “in a window, to note what passes in the street … let her gaze in the fire, or into a corner where there is a spider’s web, and philosophize, moralize, theorize … What their hands find to putter about, or their minds to think about, that let them write about.” ➆
oreau’s ecstatic, mystical moments in nature came less often as he got older, but his panentheism — God in all things, all things in God — stayed with him as he increasingly turned to science, with his journals taking on added importance as he catalogued the details of divinity on daily walks. Animal minds became a model: how to walk like a fox, how to have one’s mind and senses wholly open. On the muskrat, he wrote, “he is a different kind of man, that is all,” and when someone shot the summer ducks he cared for, he lamented that they considered it more important to “taste the flavor of them dead than I should enjoy the beauty of them alive.”
e commons nourished and educated him yet were being lost while the masses became increasingly starry-eyed over new technology, which he questioned as “improved means to unimproved ends.”
Plein Air Festival at Shelburne Farms. The collection features
works by Susan Abbott, Scott Addis, Joe Bolger, Tracy Everly, Philip Frey, Holly Friesen, Margaret Gerding, and Rachel Wilcox.
It’s always fun to revisit Seven Days’ reviews of the movies that kicked o long-running franchises. In 2013, critic Rick Kisonak slammed James Wan’s horror hit The Conjuring, calling it derivative of The Amityville Horror and noting that self-styled demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, on whom the main characters were based, were “supernatural self-promoters.”
He wasn’t wrong, and the spotlight that the film and its sequels placed on the reallife (now dead) Warrens didn’t improve their reputation. Accusations of grifting flew, and in 2017 the Hollywood Reporter divulged a woman’s allegations that Ed had seduced and cohabited with her when she was underage, with Lorraine’s knowledge. That’s a far cry from the world of the films, which portray the Warrens as a devout, deeply loving couple.
Horror fans have always taken the words “based on a true story” with a mountain of salt, however. Fictional or factual, The Conjuring scared people enough to spawn multiple spin-o series. Today, the “Conjuring Universe” encompasses nine movies about demonic hauntings, evil dolls and ghostly nuns, some starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the Warrens and others not. Now, the two actors return for the fourth and supposedly final tale of the couple’s exploits, directed by Michael Chaves (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It).
In 1964, a very pregnant Lorraine Warren (Farmiga) investigates a haunting in an antique shop containing a creepy mirror. A scare sends her into labor, and her daughter, Judy, barely survives the birth. (For the record, the real Judy Warren was born in 1946.)
Judy (Mia Tomlinson) inherits Lorraine’s psychic sensitivity, so her mother teaches her to shut out evil presences by reciting a nursery rhyme. By 1986, Ed’s (Wilson) heart condition has convinced him to retire from the demonhunting game.
But the mirror isn’t done with the Warrens. Thanks to a bizarre choice of confirmation gift, the evil antique lands in the home of the Smurls, a working-class family in Pennsylvania coal country. When young Heather (Kíla Lord Cassidy) tries to destroy it, everything goes sideways, and
eventually the fates of the Smurls and the Warrens become intertwined.
Will you like it?
That “eventually” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. The Conjuring: Last Rites is two hours and 15 minutes long, and the Warrens’ investigation of the Smurls’ haunting doesn’t even start until the last third.
In the meantime, Chaves cuts back and forth between the two families’ storylines, only one of which is consistently scary.
As homemaker Janet Smurl, Rebecca Calder combines delicacy with grim determination, and we feel for her as the supernatural starts disrupting her daily routine. The film’s two best moments involve phenomena that are just slightly o in the Smurl household, making clever use of 20th-century artifacts such as a phone cord and a John Wayne poster.
With their crack timing and strategic use of silence, these scenes recall the halcyon days of the first Conjuring. The Smurls’ home has fine grubby production design, and conflict appears to be brewing in the relationship between volatile Heather and her older sister (Beau Gadsdon).
None of these Smurl story threads actually leads anywhere, however, because the filmmakers are more interested in Warren
family fan fiction. An unconscionable amount of screen time goes to Ed’s struggle to reconcile himself to his grown daughter’s serious beau (Ben Hardy) in scenes that feel more Hallmark than horror.
Wilson and Farmiga have always made their characters warm and believable as a squeaky-clean couple, but the filmmakers may have overestimated viewers’ a ection for the fictionalized Warrens. Just because we want them to guide us through haunted houses doesn’t mean we also want to hang out at their backyard barbecue. At least when Judy goes wedding dress shopping, she lands in a room with, you guessed it, a lot of mirrors.
When the storylines finally converge, we remember what we liked about this franchise. A simple shot of Lorraine vibing with the Smurl home’s troubled spirits has an ominous eloquence, while a scene of Ed flipping pancakes for the a icted family o ers jaunty retro charm (“Sometimes I make wa es,” he notes). This is how we want to imagine the Warrens: facing down the gaping maw of the vast unknown with big breakfasts and midcentury chipperness.
Given the major role that Judy and her fiancé play in the story, the younger couple seems likely to take up the demonologist mantle in future installments. And that’s a problem, because they lack Wilson and
Farmiga’s chemistry and charisma. While one can’t fault The Conjuring: Last Rites for trying a new direction, the scares it conjures are few and far between.
MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com
THE CONJURING (2013; AMC+, HBO Max, YouTube Primetime, rentable): Loosely based on a 1970 case, the franchise starter benefits from director Wan’s artful timing, which turns a routine haunting tale into a thrill ride.
OCULUS (2013; Kanopy, PLEX, Prime Video, rentable): Before Mike Flanagan made it big with his twists on classic horror literature for Netflix, he directed a haunted mirror movie that’s actually frightening. Contrasting it favorably to e Conjuring, Kisonak called it “the most smartly made, conceptually inventive supernatural thriller in years.”
PRESENCE (2024; Disney+, Hulu, Kanopy, rentable): I’ve always wanted a haunting story told from the haunt’s point of view, imagining a logic behind the supernatural manifestations in these movies. While neither as scary nor as satirical as I’d like, Steven Soderbergh’s thriller is a smart take on that premise.
THE BALTIMORONS: A man develops feelings for his dentist after seeking her aid on a wild Christmas Eve in Jay Duplass’ comedy, starring Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen. (99 min, R. Capitol)
DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY
CASTLE: Slayers fight demons in a new venue in the adult animation, directed by Haruo Sotozaki and Hikaru Kondo. (155 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset)
DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE: In 1930, a public scandal threatens the Crawleys’ social position. Simon Curtis directed the period drama, starring Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt and Elizabeth McGovern. (123 min, PG. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse, Savoy, Star, Stowe, Welden)
THE LONG WALK: In this adaptation of Stephen King’s novella from Francis Lawrence (most of The Hunger Games movies), teenage boys in a dystopian world compete in a grueling contest. Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson star. (108 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Sunset)
SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES: The band reunites for a last show in this belated sequel to the beloved 1984 rock mockumentary, directed by Rob Reiner, who stars with Christopher Guest and Michael McKean. (83 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Marquis)
THE BAD GUYS 2HHH In the sequel to the animated animal adventure hit, a squad of reformed villains gets pulled back into the life of crime. (104 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Majestic)
CAUGHT STEALINGHHH1/2 A former baseball player (Austin Butler) gets embroiled in crime in 1990s New York City in Darren Aronofsky’s dark comedy-thriller. (107 min, R. Bijou, Stowe)
THE CONJURING: LAST RITESHH Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) investigate one last case of demonic activity in director Michael Chaves’ latest contribution to the horror franchise. (135 min, R. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 9/10)
DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHTHHHH Embeth Davidtz cowrote, directed and stars in this drama based on Alexandra Fuller’s memoir of growing up on a Rhodesian farm in the 1980s. (99 min, R. Catamount)
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPSHHH The Marvel superhero quartet gets a second reboot set on an alternate Earth with a retro vibe. (115 min, PG-13. Majestic)
FOLKTALESHHH1/2 This documentary from Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady profiles students of a “folk high school” in Norway, where sled dogs help open paths to coming of age. (105 min, NR. Savoy)
FREAKIER FRIDAYHHH Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles 22 years after the hit comedy about a magical mother-daughter body swap. (111 min, PG. Capitol, Majestic, Sunset)
THE NAKED GUNHHHH Liam Neeson plays the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character in a belated sequel to the action-comedy franchise about a bumbling cop. (85 min, PG-13. Capitol, Majestic, Stowe)
NOBODY 2HHH Bob Odenkirk returns as an assassin turned suburban dad in the sequel to the 2021 action hit. Timo Tjahjanto directed. With Christopher Lloyd and Connie Nielsen. (89 min, R. Stowe)
THE ROSESHHH Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman and Kate McKinnon star in this remake of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses, about an escalating spousal battle. Jay Roach directed. (Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star)
SKETCHHHHH A young girl’s drawings come to life and wreak havoc in this fantasy comedy directed by Seth Worley. (92 min, PG. City Cinema)
SPLITSVILLEHHH1/2 Four friends attempt to remedy one couple’s impending separation with a little swapping in this comedy from Michael Angelo Covino (The Climb), who stars with Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona and Kyle Marvin. (104 min, R. Savoy)
THE TOXIC AVENGERHH In this reboot of the beloved Troma Entertainment horror franchise, Peter Dinklage plays the janitor transformed into a smelly superhuman vigilante. (102 min, R. Sunset)
WEAPONSHHHH The bizarre disappearance of every kid in an elementary school class rips a town apart in this psychological horror film from Zach Cregger (Barbarian). (128 min, R. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset; reviewed 8/13)
DARK PASSAGE (Catamount, Wed 17 only)
HAMILTON (Capitol, Essex, Majestic)
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (Sunset) JAWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY (City Cinema)
THE LOST BOYS (Catamount, Fri only)
THE MALTESE FALCON (Catamount, Wed 10 only)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC 60TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun & Wed 17 only)
TOY STORY 30TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Majestic, Sunset, Welden)
(* = 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, 229-0598, savoytheater.com
THE SCREENING ROOM @ VTIFF: 60 Lake St., Ste. 1C, Burlington, 660-2600, vtiff.org
STAR THEATRE: 17 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-9511, stjaytheatre.com
*STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com
SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com
WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com
Indigenous artists explore sound at Shelburne Museum
DThat’s the origin story of the jingle dress and dance — now a mainstay of powwows across North America. Women from many Native American nations perform in dresses such as one made in 2024 by Aerius BentonBanai, a Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe artist from Wisconsin, on display as part of the exhibition “Making a Noise: Indigenous Sound Art” at Shelburne Museum. The show, on view through October 26 at the Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education, features works by six contemporary Indigenous artists.
uring the 1918 flu pandemic, an Ojibwe man’s daughter was sick. He dreamed of a dance performed by women wearing dresses adorned with little cones made from tin cans, a dance that would heal her. He made the dress and taught her the steps to the dance. She recovered and became the first jingle dancer.
STORY & PHOTOS BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com
trying to weave while her kids are running around, plucking the strings on the loom for fun, and you’ll get some of the joy that’s inherent in this mural. It contrasts with Chacon’s other piece in the show, a 9.5-by-11-foot painting called “Toohoołtsódii Grieves Her Missing Baby, Her Tears Create Chaos … and Flood the World.” In it, we see the horned, scaly and yet perfectly manicured “Big Water Creature,” as she is described on the label, grieving her children, who have been stolen by Coyote. The painting is silent but articulates a deep, broken sadness — an undercurrent of many of the works in the show and one that o ers context for sound as a much-needed force
Despite its title, the exhibition is less noisy than visitors might expect. The works are not loud, immersive or overwhelming; they use sound as one element of composition more than as a primary medium. Victoria Sunnergren, the museum’s associate curator of Native American art, sets the stage for the contemporary works with two historical ones — 19th-century Diné weavings from the museum’s Anthony and Teressa Perry collection of Native American art. The patterns that run through the blanket and biil (a dress made from two rectangular panels and worn with a belt) resemble sound waves, and their red, indigo, white and black palettes seem to vibrate.
Benton-Banai’s jingle dress is displayed as an example of the custom-made dresses that dancers wear at powwows, and it is quite a stunning one, with silvery swirls, appliquéd stars and rows upon rows of jingle cones hanging from short ribbons. Jingle cones, which are like bells with no clappers, were originally made from can lids and are now commercially manufactured. They produce a light, tinkling noise as the dancer moves, a sound intensified by the dance’s elegant sweep-
1978.
Weavings such as these were an inspiration for Albuquerque, N.M., muralist Nanibah Chacon, who is also Diné and Chicana. Together with sound engineer Lucas Gonzalez, she created “EMI Nahasdlii,” a wall-size installation commissioned for the show. Black, gray and red geometric forms interact with a series of steel, guitar-like strings, stretched on pegs, that zigzag across the wall. This is one of several works that the museum encourages visitors to touch.
In the 1920s, the U.S. Department of the Interior banned any religious rituals or dances by Indigenous peoples — a ban not lifted until 1978. Because of that, the jingle dance has political overtones and has become symbolic of resistance as well as healing. According to curatorial text, the jingle dress dance became an ocial category in competition powwows in the 1960s — evidence that women had been practicing it for decades, despite the risks. Chelsea Bighorn, a Lakota/Dakota/ Shoshone-Paiute artist based in Chicago, created “Jingle Cone Chainmail” — a piece made from aluminum cans that alludes to that history. The obvious time and labor required to make the wearable artwork speak to generational patience and endurance as tools of opposition to
Doing so is really, really fun. Many of the strings span long distances — the mural is 20 feet wide — so their twang is deeper than a bass; others are shorter and sharper. Playing the installation is a bit like reaching inside a grand piano to pull something and see what happens, with equally melodious results. It’s clear, though, that this isn’t a tuneful instrument. It’s more like an amplifier for the cultural significance of the weaving tradition, highlighting how the activity shaped daily life. Picture someone
Marie Watt, a Seneca artist from Portland, Ore., has used jingle cones to create “Sky Dances Light: Forest IV, Forest V, Forest VI,” a gloriously interactive sonic sculpture. The artist has attached hundreds of them to red mesh forms that dangle from the ceiling. They’re thick as tree trunks but hollow and lightweight; they make a noise like light rain or wind rustling autumn leaves. Visitors can run their hands through the cones, rub up against the sculptures like a cat or crash into them headfirst — an approach
favored by gallery visitor Rowan, age 4, who had no trouble understanding the nature of the work.
One other piece, “Thokhántanhan (From Elsewhere),” by the Oglála Lakhóta artist Kite, an assistant professor at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., also uses sound in direct conversation with the body. Viewers who approach the piece trigger an ambient composition, which is paired with a carbon-fiber sculpture of the artist’s family burial grounds based on U.S. Geological Survey maps. The sound here is an experiential way of describing a spiritual space. Yet the fact that the gallery visitor is in a certain sense being surveilled turns the tables, introducing discomfort as perhaps another tool for cross-cultural healing.
universe. The label says Kite’s grandfather taught her that stones speak, see and know — and “‘Most importantly, stones want to help.’”
VISITORS CAN RUN THEIR HANDS THROUGH THE CONES, RUB UP AGAINST THE SCULPTURES LIKE A CAT OR CRASH INTO THEM HEADFIRST.
Across from the Pizzagalli Center, loud machines are busy constructing the new Perry Center for Native American Art, slated to open in 2027, which will house the museum’s collection of more than 500 objects from 389 different Indigenous peoples. The curatorial direction Sunnergren has taken with this exhibition bodes very well for how the museum will eventually present that collection.
Kite’s installation “Opening, Opening, Opening, Opening, Opening, Opening, Opening, Opening, Opening” is an arrangement of simple white stones in what the curatorial text describes as a visual score. It’s accompanied by a diagram and a lengthy untitled poem. An instruction reads, “For two dreamers: Traverse the opening through sound.” Though there’s no direct translation of this visual language, the poem is about repairing rifts in communication itself — between people, the Earth and the
Though this is a show of contemporary art, “Making a Noise” encourages the viewer to see cultural objects — including historical ones — entirely differently from how many museums might show them. They’re artworks, artifacts of healing, musical instruments and symbols of resistance, all at the same time. They draw on tradition but aren’t relegated to the past. They are fun, sad and magical. And everything, from a woven blanket to a tin can to a small rock, has a lot to say. ➆
INFO
“Making a Noise: Indigenous Sound Art,” on view through October 26 at Shelburne Museum. shelburnemuseum.org
BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com
A battered hat. A grimy pair of work gloves. Pants so infused with paint that they stand up on their own. These are some of the garments on view in “Love and Practice,” a show at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury that celebrates how artists make their work.
Curated by Harlan Mack, a sculptor and the visual arts program director at Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, the exhibition features artworks and studio clothes from studio center staff members. It’s aptly timed to usher in a new artist residency program at Catamount Arts, developed in partnership with the studio center.
While the garments alone don’t always offer insight into how these works were created, they do when paired with the artists’ statements. Rather than being front and center, those texts are in a binder near the show’s entrance. Viewers should stop to read them because they add a great deal of emotional and narrative heft to the objects on display.
Aidan Lodge’s work boots, whose soles gave out as she hauled two tons of soil for her BFA thesis exhibition last year, sit on “(that) writhing thing (at the center of it all),” a sculpture made of steel and soil. “They clung to my feet as I walked and biked to the studio, they cushioned my feet as I stood welding, making molds and working service jobs to support myself and my practice,” Lodge writes.
Painter Arista Alanis displays her gray Carhartt pants as part of a studio practice that includes routine and comfort: playing music, changing her shoes. The pants document the years she wore them, early in her career at the studio center. “When splattered with paint,” she writes, “they become marked with memory.”
Trevor Corp displays a work glove alongside a wood table and metal-and-glass lamp he created. “For the longest time,” he writes, “I was averse to the practice of wearing gloves.”
MIKE HOWAT: “Home, Disassembled,” an exhibition of works that use architectural forms as a framework for personal and collective narratives. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., through September 27. Info, 603-448-3117.
MICHAEL SHOUDT: “Open Fermentation,” works informed by the artist’s 15 years as a professional brewer. ATM Gallery, Shelburne, through September 28. Info, atmgallerydirector@gmail.com.
KYLE TANSLEY: Nature photographs of birds, including barred owls and common loons, by the Vermont photographer, who volunteers as a transporter of injured birds. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, through October 31. Info, 359-5000.
'BEYOND RED BARNS': A juried group show of works by members of the Northern Vermont Artist Association picturing ideals of gathering and community. Reception: Wednesday, September 10, 5-7
He explains that although gloves can impair the tactile facility he needs to make his work, protecting his hands became so much more important that he now considers gloves indispensable.
The show’s foregrounding of artistic practice creates a thoughtful context for Catamount’s new residency program. Participants will spend three to six weeks living and working in an apartment and studio in the Northern Forest Center’s newly renovated building at 560 Railroad Street in St. Johnsbury, which started accepting tenants in April. The nearly $6 million project gutted the 1909 building and created nine light, airy, “middle-market” apartments and a commercial space occupied by Tunnel Books, in addition to the artist’s studio. Each artist will share the building with regular tenants.
Catamount has announced nine resident artists and writers in the 2025-26 cohort, selected from 73 applications by Vermont Studio Center alums. Unlike the program in Johnson, Catamount education director Anne Campbell said, “It’s not a residency where you just do your work and go home — a requirement is to have some sort of engagement in the community.” Forms of engagement could range from doing programs in local schools and prisons to offering film screenings at Catamount.
Jen Volansky of Stowe, the first artist-inresidence, who arrived last Friday, plans to hold a series of events called “Art Happens Here” that are “designed to bring creativity into everyday spaces,” such as laundromats, trailheads and waiting rooms. She aims to integrate artistic practice with people’s everyday lives. “It is a way to slow down, notice, and remember that creativity belongs to all of us,” Volansky writes in a project summary. Perhaps it goes without saying that participants can wear anything they like. ➆
“Love and Practice,” on view through October 26 at the Fried Family Gallery at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury. catamountarts.org
Clockwise from top: “Beach Front Property and Other Disasters 3” and studio pants by Harlan Mack; “(that) writhing thing (at the center of it all)” and boots by Aidan Lodge; “I felt it inside my chest” by Zach Shaw
p.m. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, through May 17. Info, 656-0750.
'KIMONO: GARMENT, CANVAS, AND ARTISTIC MUSE': An exploration of the iconic garment as embodied through works of textiles, ceramic, glass, metal and in other mediums by contemporary artists such as Itchiku Kubota, Karen LaMonte and Michael F. Rohde. Reception: Wednesday, September 10, 5-7 p.m. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, through December 6. Info, 656-0750.
'ROOTED IN NATURE: COLLECTING HISTORIES AT UVM': A permanent collection exhibition highlighting themes of people and planet throughout the Fleming’s history. Reception: Wednesday, September 10, 5-7 p.m. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, through May 16, 2026. Info, 656-0750.
'IN PRAISE OF THE MISSING IMAGE': A group exhibition focusing on the silences and gaps in individual and collective memory within the context of colonialism and its ramifications. Copresented as part of the 19th edition of the MOMENTA Biennale.
Reception: Wednesday, September 10, 5:30 p.m. Montréal Museum of Contemporary Art, September 11-March 8. Info, 514-847-6226.
MEG MCDEVITT: “We’ll need bridges,” a new body of work exploring connections between sculpture, drawing, gesture and materiality by the senior studio art lecturer. Reception: Thursday, September 11, 5 p.m. Francis Colburn Gallery, University of Vermont, Burlington, through September 11. Info, soa@uvm.edu.
SARA KATZ AND NICHOLAS BERNARD: A duo exhibition of abstract landscape paintings by Katz and sculptural ceramic vessels by Bernard. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, Middlebury, September 12-November 1. Info, 458-0098.
‘REIMAGINED II: THE ART OF RECYCLING’: A group show of works in all mediums by artists who use recycled materials. Reception: Friday, September 12, 5-7 p.m. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, September 12-October 24. Info, 775-0356.
'PECKS, PIES & SPIES: APPLE GROWING IN VERMONT': A multidisciplinary exhibition inviting visitors to explore Vermont’s apple-growing heritage
through storytelling, hands-on activities and sensory tastings. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, September 13-November 30. Info, 457-2355.
'HOLDING: MEMENTOS KEPT, MEMORIES KINDLED': The annual “Art at the Kent” exhibition, with works by 22 Vermont artists on the theme of memory and recollection at the state historic site. Opening reception: Saturday, September 13, 3-5 p.m. Kents Corner State Historic Site, Calais, September 12-October 12. Info, thekentmuseum@gmail.com.
'ROCK SOLID XXV': The 25th annual exhibition, in the Main Floor gallery, showcasing stone sculptures and assemblages by area sculptors and works that depict the qualities of the material. Reception: Saturday, September 20, 4-5:30 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, September 10-October 25. Info, 479-7069.
SUSAN SMEREKA: “Constant continuum,” an exhibition of small book projects, watercolors, collages and prints that recount the artist’s loss of her brother. In the Third Floor gallery. Reception: Saturday, September 20, 4-5:30 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, September 10-October 25. Info, 479-7069.
MARISA GREEN: “Fruiting Bodies,” an exhibition of cut paper and multimedia works exploring the natural systems and emotional connections between people and plants by the 2024-25 artistin-residence, on view in the Second Floor gallery. Reception: Saturday, September 20, 4-5:30 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, September 10-October 25. Info, 479-7069, info@studioplacearts.com.
FALL OPEN HOUSE: A reception and exhibition preview, including “Kimono: Garment, Canvas, and Artistic Muse,” “Beyond Red Barns,” “Rooted in Nature” and “Gathering,” with remarks by new University of Vermont president Marlene Tromp. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, Wednesday, September 10, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 656-0750. ASSETS FOR ARTISTS WORKSHOPS: ‘PROJECT MANAGEMENT’: An online workshop with Ana Tinajero in which artists learn to build and execute successful plans for projects of any size, in all disciplines. Participants are asked to attend both sessions. Register via Zoom at assetsforartists.org/workshops. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier, Wednesday, September 10, 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday, September 17, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, assetsforartists@massmoca.org.
LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Thursday, September 11, 7-9 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.
TICONDEROGA WEEKEND: A weekend-long event commemorating the arrival of the steamboat, which traveled overland from Shelburne Bay. Free events include a trail walk tracing the boat’s path, art making for all ages, a talk by a member of the restoration team, a listening party with Vermont Folklife and TiconderYOGA on the deck of the ship. Shelburne Museum, September 11-14. Free-$70. Info, 985-3346.
ARTIST TALK: ASHLEY WOLFF: A discussion by the September “Artist of the Month” of her education, work and creative process, along with a drawing demonstration. Doors open at 6 p.m. Brandon Artists Guild, Friday, September 12, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 247-4956.
STUDENT SATURDAYS: Free museum admission for college students every Saturday in September, including access to the Museum’s temporary exhibitions, permanent collection, 39 historic buildings and 45-acre grounds. Shelburne Museum, Saturday, September 13. Free. Info, 985-3346.
ARTIST TALK: TODD KOSHAREK: “Vermont Art History,” the artist offers context for the exhibition “Roots.” Emile A. Gruppe Gallery, Jericho, Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 899-3211.
STONE BENCH PROJECT DEDICATION: The dedication of a stone bench carved by eight local students at the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center and focused on the rich history of the Manchester area, including imagery of sheep farming, landscapes and winter sports. Dedication takes place at the Skate Park. Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, Manchester Center, Saturday, September 13, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 438-2097.
FORTIETH BIRTHDAY BLOCK PARTY: A celebration of the museum’s anniversary where visitors can contribute to a community chalk garden, visit the Make Space gallery and collaborate on a large-scale mosaic in the Russo Atrium. Popcorn and lemonade from Howling Good Kettle Corn. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Saturday, September 13, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-9660.
‘A TOAST TO THE ARTS’: A fundraising event featuring artwork for purchase curated by Theresa Harris, including works by Carrie Ade, Judy Albright, Kathleen Fleming, Kathleen Kolb and others. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, Saturday, September 13, 5:30-8 p.m. $25-$50. Info, 382-9222.
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, September 14, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.
FIGURE DRAWING: Drawing from a live model by artists at all levels of experience. Drawing boards and easels provided; participants bring drawing materials. 18-plus; preregistration required. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Sunday, September 14, 2-4 p.m. $15; $5 for current VSC residents. Info, 635-2727.
MIRA CABRERA: “Sacred Circle: Outdoor Art Installation and Equinox Gathering,” archival prints hand-embellished with natural pigments and installed outdoors on the “Spirit in Nature” trails. Visitors walk the trails and see pigment demonstrations starting at 3 p.m., with an Equinox gathering at 6 p.m. Spirit in Nature Interfaith Path Sanctuary, Ripton, Sunday, September 14, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, growing.in.process@gmail.com.
PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Monday, September 15, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.
SUMMER WATERCOLOR SERIES: A class suitable for novice and experienced painters, taught by Pauline Nolte. Supplies provided for beginners. Waterbury Public Library, Tuesday, September 16, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.
OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials available. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, September 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation. Info, 343-8172.
ARTIST TALK: DARYL STORRS: A presentation by and conversation with the Huntington printmaker and pastel artist. Northwood Gallery, Stowe, Tuesday, September 16, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sevendaystickets.com.
DRINK & DRAW: A drop-in event organized by the T.W. Wood Gallery; no experience necessary; drawing materials provided. Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, Wednesday, September 17, 5-7 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation; cash bar. Info, 262-6035.
2025 GOVERNOR’S ARTS AWARDS CELEBRATION: A celebration of this year’s recipients, with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, special guests, and live performances in addition to the awards program. Space limited; reserve tickets through vermontartscouncil.org by September 10. Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, Wednesday, September 17, 5:30 p.m. Free to $50, sliding scale. Info, info@vermontartscouncil.org.
ARTIST TALK: GOLNAR ADILI: The artist, designer and educator discusses her work and practice, which is influenced by her history growing up in post-revolution Iran. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Wednesday, September 17, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727. ➆
CELEBRATION OF DEMOCRACY WITH INDIVISIBLE BRATTLEBORO:
Seeking works by visual artists, poets, storytellers, essayists and musicians addressing the question, “What does democracy look like?” for a November 16 event in conjunction with Indivisible’s afternoon devoted to democracy. Submission form at indibrattleboro.org. Latchis Hotel & Theater, Brattleboro. Deadline: October 5. Info, bhstickney@gmail.com.
PECHAKUCHA: Seeking presenters to share their work and ideas using using 20 slides, each displayed for 20 seconds. The concise format encourages brevity and creativity and offers the opportunity to share new work with an audience and receive feedback in a fun, supportive and inclusive environment. Apply online at avagallery.org/call-to-artists.
AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H. Event is November 12; application deadline October 27. $20 application fee. Info, 603-448-3117.
News and views on the local music + nightlife scene
BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com
“Why would you want to be anywhere else?”
The question — more of a statement, really — came from the group walking behind me as I crossed Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, N.C., last weekend. The sun was finally relenting as a muchneeded breeze swept across the crowded street, but the almost 90-degree temps had taken some of the fight out of me, and I was flagging a little. After all, to paraphrase the well-known quote from the film Clerks, I wasn’t even supposed to be there.
My brother, Patrick, and I had flown down south to visit our mother. But after realizing a friend of mine was working at the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, I made some calls and boom — we were smack in the middle of one of the coolest music festivals on the East Coast. MY MORNING JACKET, SPARKS, GEORDIE GREEP, BUILT TO SPILL, GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR and a ton of other amazing acts packed a killer lineup.
I thought about the overheard
Indeed, no one could accuse Potter of sitting on the sidelines. Besides her status as one of the Green Mountain State’s most successful musical exports, the singer, composer and producer launched her own festival, Grand Point North, at Burlington’s Waterfront Park in 2011. For the past 14 years, she’s brought an array of big-time touring acts such as KENNY CHESNEY, the WAR ON DRUGS and LUCIUS, alongside many Vermont artists.
comment all weekend: Why would you want to be anywhere else?
I’d voiced that same sentiment multiple times over the years while walking around the rotary in Winooski, marveling at the spectacle and sheer hipster cool of the Waking Windows festival. Hopscotch is a much bigger deal, located in a large, thriving city with oodles of venues and parks. But the minute I arrived there, I felt the nostalgic
tug of Waking Windows memories, followed by a sense of loss that the Vermont music scene no longer had that crown jewel.
“It’s so easy to focus on what’s been lost or to say something is crumbling,”
GRACE POTTER told me over Zoom recently as we were talking about the state of Vermont’s music scene. “It gets kind of boring. Like, OK, what are you going to do about it, then?”
This year’s iteration, starting on Friday, September 12, and culminating with a sold-out show from jam band GOOSE on Sunday, September 14, is Potter’s boldest lineup to date. There’s New York City indie-rock bands MELT and ISTA, as well as Baltimore singersongwriter BRITTNEY SPENCER, but otherwise the bill is made up of local, female-led groups and artists. Singersongwriter GRACE PALMER, punk-rock bands SLOB DROP and the BURLY GIRLIES, Brattleboro synth popper DUTCH EXPERTS, rapper HEADY BETTY, and surf-rock act the WET ONES! fill out a lineup that Potter is incredibly excited about.
“We’ve got great weirdos on this bill who bring the humor and the atmosphere that makes people want to move here,” she said, the enthusiasm in her voice unmistakable. “I wanted to take some chances with the booking and show o the colorful creatures making art in Burlington and in Vermont. This city’s heartbeat thrives on culture.”
Potter has something special planned for her own performances as well. On Friday and Saturday night, she plays sets backed by the awesome power of the VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. She first collaborated with the orchestra back in March for sold-out shows at Paramount Theatre in Rutland and the Flynn in Burlington, which is when she met VSO artistic adviser and project conductor MATT LAROCCA.
“The first thing I did was ask Grace what she wanted to do with an orchestra,” LaRocca said in a Zoom call.
“Are we just adding accents or actually reworking these songs? We drew up a list of 20 songs and started paring down from there, figuring out which songs could really shine with the orchestra.”
Potter grew up seeing the VSO perform outdoor concerts, so not long after meeting LaRocca, she knew she wanted to collaborate for Grand Point North and bring the show to the Burlington waterfront. And while she was nervous at first about feeling like the rock and roller among highly trained classical musicians, that feeling didn’t last long.
There’s a Waking Windows-shaped hole in the Vermont music scene. Ever since the long-running indie music festival called it quits in May, there’s been a lot of hand-wringing and sky-is-falling rhetoric. Which is understandable! The fest was a supercharged spotlight on Vermont bands that put the best of Green Mountain musicians alongside killer touring acts.
Nature (and music fans) abhor a vacuum. So some of the biggest names in Vermont music, including majorlabel artists such as GRACE POTTER, are attempting to address that. (See Soundbites, page 62.)
The Burlington indie scene has not been idle, either. Musician and DIY promoter NOAH KESEY has big plans for his Spirit of Vermont: A Day in the Sun festival, which kicks o on Friday, October 3, at Red Barn Gardens in
Williston. The two-day event is in its second year. Unlike Waking Windows and Grand Point North, the Day in the Sun fest is pure DIY: no sponsors or well-known names. But it serves as a showcase for the city’s thriving indie and psych-rock sounds, with a big lineup full of some of Burlington’s finest.
Among them are GREG FREEMAN (fresh o getting a huge shout-out in Pitchfork last week), the DEAD SHAKERS, GREASEFACE, ROCKIN’ WORMS and bluegrass act WILD LEEK RIVER. Kesey, along with his fellow curator and promoter BILLY WEAVER, have also added a few New York City indie rockers to the bill, including VOYEUR, LIZ COOPER and KITCHEN, as well as Ohio’s VILLAGERRR
“This is all kind of a battle against spiritual malaise,” Kesey said as we sat at a picnic table in downtown Burlington last week. “To do something
“I’ve worked with orchestras before, in Norway and even at the Kennedy Center, and yeah, it was a little odd. I felt pretty out of place,” Potter admitted. “But Matt’s specific energy as a conductor and a leader never really let that happen this time. His willingness to explore beyond the bounds of what’s on the sheet is just so incredible and unique.”
For LaRocca, expanding and reworking Potter’s songs was a thrilling endeavor. He zeroed in on tracks such as “The Lion the Beast the Beat,” “Little Hitchhiker” and some of the music from her most recent albums, Mother Road and the T BONE BURNETT-produced Medicine
“The e ect of what Matt and the orchestra are doing to the songs is just wild to hear,” Potter said. “It’s like rewilding a field and watching the seeds grow.”
“I started by just listening to the songs, over and over,” LaRocca said. “Then, I’d pull away from it and let my imagination just run with the possibilities. And that’s where you can start hearing di erent melodies appear, or notice some things already there that the orchestra can amplify.”
For Potter, the collaboration with the VSO and her daring, eye-onthe-scene booking all represent something of a new era for Grand Point North. She has more control than ever, having refashioned the event into a showcase for her newly formed nonprofit, the Grand Point Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting arts and culture in her home state. She hopes to use the foundation and her status as one of the state’s leading musical lights to help guide the scene out of a turbulent time.
“The scene is just so full of talent right now, even with fewer stages or venues for people to play,” Potter said. “Just imagine what it could be like with a bigger spotlight.”
I’m not sure if we’ll ever see something like Waking Windows again — check out this week’s On the Beat for an event that strives to get there, though. But Grand Point North has evolved into a singularly cool festival in itself. Here’s hoping that people look out at Lake Champlain as Potter and VSO make beautiful music together and ask one another: “Why would you want to be anywhere else?” ➆
BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH
that is pretty dumb in some ways — everything in our culture now tells us dedicating hours of your life to music is stupid and financially irresponsible — it’s a quiet rebellion.”
Kesey and Weaver hope but don’t expect to break even. Weaver’s family owns Red Barn Gardens (where he once helped cultivate the much-loved Nightshade Festivals), and all the acts on the bill are either personal friends of the curators or friends of friends. No one was booked through agents; Kesey just called up his pals and said, “Hey, do you want to play?”
“The reason I’m a musician and I put on events is because I have a non-cerebral calling to do it. It’s a physical response, like throwing up,” Kesey said, laughing. “It’s community building through music, and that’s everything to me. I think it is insanely important for us to participate in that as a culture.”
Kesey, who was born in Woodstock, still recalls the sense of magic he felt at his first Waking Windows, in 2017, as well as attending events such as the Otis Mountain Get Down and the Mountain Jam in upstate New York.
“I’ve always idolized those kinds of fests that don’t feel exploitative of the fans,” he said. “I also loved that their settings weren’t some concrete box or a parking lot. The environment, the vibe — it’s so important.”
A Day in the Sun has that in spades. “The venue is legitimately angelic,” Kesey said. “There are grapes growing on
1. Mikaela Davis with Lily Seabird at the Stone Church in Brattleboro, 9.21
2. Alice Cooper and Judas Priest at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga, N Y , 9.27
3. Blues Traveler at the Paramount eater, Rutland, 10.3
4. Bryan Adams at the Bell Centre, Montreal, 10.8
5. Violent Femmes at the Flynn, Burlington, 10.11 SOLD OUT
6. Jeff Tweedy at the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 10.13 SOLD OUT; at Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon N.H. 10.14
7. Bella’s Bartok at the Radio Bean, Burlington, 11.1
(Spotify mix of local jams)
1. “WAIT FOR YA” by Rico James, Old Gold
2. “RIVERSIDE” by the Wormdogs
3. “I GOT A WELL” by Miriam Bernardo, Anaïs Mitchell, Halle Jade Toulis, Hannah Gluck, Stephanie Wilson, Jer Coons
4. “GROW THE F UP” by Omega Jade and Mavstar
5. “CURSUS ABLAZE” by Barishi
6. “MIRRORED ENDING” by the Discussions
7. “PIZUICA” by Mal Maiz
Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist
the building that you can pick and eat on the spot! Little greenhouses you can visit. Flowers and tomatoes everywhere.”
For more on the Spirit of Vermont: A Day in the Sun festival and to find the ticket link, go to @spiritofvermont on Instagram.
When you think of a battle of the bands, you probably picture a slew of local rock acts, maybe some singersongwriters, lots of covers and a few
awkward interactions. (My favorite will always be when I was judging a battle a few years ago and the aunt of a bassist came over and wondered if I was high because I didn’t award his band the expected points. Spoiler: Maybe I was, lady.)
There’s a di erent kind of battle brewing in Plattsburgh, N.Y., this weekend at the Trinity Episcopal Church. This Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, the Battle of Plattsburgh commemoration will feature four programs of music that existed when the battle was fought in 1814.
On Saturday, the PLATTSBURGH STATE GOSPEL CHOIR, led by DR. DEXTER CRISS, will perform “From Seeds They Grew: The Roots of American Gospel Music.” Following that will be “Music of the Night: MOZART’s E-flat Major Serenade” courtesy of DANIEL GORDON and the ADIRONDACK WIND ENSEMBLE
On Sunday, musician Marilyn Reynolds and players from CHAMPLAIN STRINGS perform “A Masterpiece Returned: VIVALDI’s Four Seasons.” Then, capping o the series, violist PATRICIA MCCARTY, guitarist BILL ZITO and flutist ROBIN CAMERON-PHILLIPS take on LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN’s Serenade, Op. 8, as well as a trio of sonatas by 17th-century German composer GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
Since these bands aren’t necessarily battling but rather commemorating the battle that ended the War of 1812, I’m guessing there will be fewer angry aunts inquiring about drug use. But you never know!
For more info, visit battleofplattsburgh.com. ➆
60 Lake St., 1st Floor, Burlington
His Girl Friday (1940) reached a pinnacle in screwball comedy. Star reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) is leaving the news biz to get married, but her ruthless editor (and ex-husband) Walter Burns (Cary Grant) isn’t having it. Hildy agrees to cover one more story — the execution of murderer Earl Williams — and the dominoes start falling. is Howard Hawks film manages to satirize journalistic practices while also upholding the institution of the fourth estate.
INTRODUCED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN, DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR
With its mix of fictional storytelling and cinema vérité, Haskell Wexler’s Medium Cool (1968) depicts the working world and romantic life of a television cameraman. It’s a cinematic snapshot of an era of U.S. social upheaval, climaxing with an extended sequence shot in the middle of the riots surrounding the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. A commentary on the pleasures and dangers of wielding a camera, Medium Cool is as prescient a political film as Hollywood has ever produced.
INTRODUCED BY CATHY RESMER, DEPUTY PUBLISHER
From director Joan Micklin Silver (a Village Voice writer before her Hollywood career), Between the Lines (1977) spotlights the offices of a fictional Boston alt-weekly before it’s sold to a major publishing company. Supposedly based on the Boston Phoenix — where screenwriter Fred Barron worked — the film features an all-star cast, including a very young Jeff Goldblum.
INTRODUCED BY DAN BOLLES, CULTURE COEDITOR
Shiori Ito directs Black Box Diaries, a 2024 Oscar-nominated documentary about her own sexual assault — and the fallout from her very public accusation, which rocked Japanese society and changed the country’s antiquated sexual assault laws. As both victim and journalist investigating her own case, Ito captures her tumultuous and ultimately triumphant journey, going behind the headlines to reveal what it has been like to walk in her shoes.
INTRODUCED BY DEREK BROUWER, NEWS REPORTER
Get
What are some specific challenges of this position?
New Learning Journey at Knoll Farm isn’t a typical organization. We run two major programs in two locations. Although one of them is largely invisible in Vermont, our First Light program in Maine is a robust operation with multiple types of activity. e Refuge at Knoll Farm also branches into many different areas. You could say we are a very dynamic and creative organization, and holding all of these aspects together is central to the Business Manager’s day-to-day work. e role is often behind the scenes, but because it requires a 360-degree view of the big picture, the details can sometimes be a challenge. at said, once I was able to integrate all aspects of the work — financial management, hospitality at the Refuge, caring for our team, keeping pace with grantmaking and tracking, and managing fundraising campaigns — it became deeply rewarding. To me, being a Business Manager here is an art form.
Justin Levinson has been at a loss for words. For the past decade, the Vergennes-born artist struggled to write lyrics for the bevy of instrumental fragments cluttering his voice memos. For reasons unknown to their creator, the snippets refused to cohere into the quirky singer-songwriter pop tunes for which he’s known. Surrendering to the reality at hand, Levinson decided to reinvent himself and his art.
between its main passages feels like a tipping point.
Releasing as JX Levinson, the Shelburne composer just unveiled Sans Paroles, a brief but powerful neoclassical excursion. He masterfully swirls together strings and piano — played by musicians Nathaniel Wolkstein and Pier Luigi Salami, respectively — in entrancing waves and stormy eruptions.
In press materials, Levinson calls his new work a score for “a film that doesn’t exist yet,” which rings true for a couple of reasons. First, Levinson’s pieces are short, as film score music tends to be. Most movie and TV scenes run for two to three minutes; cinematic music accommodates the art form’s conventions.
Recalling John Lunn’s exceptional work on beloved British drama “Downton Abbey,” “Closing Ground” unleashes staccato strings and nimble piano after a trepidatious ramp-up. The shortest piece on the album, it’s possibly the most powerful and memorable. Its mounting mania pushes the tempo before a triumphant and surprisingly gentle close. Levinson plays with extremes throughout. The piano and strings of “Distant Shore” are featherlight until a thud of orchestral thunder arrives to question the preceding whispers.
“In the Wake of Silence” takes a similar tack, but its outer limits are more prominent, its conclusion more unknowable.
Everything! New Learning Journey, the nonprofit behind operations, is a visionary endeavor. It takes at least a year to truly absorb and follow the many facets of the work. And our office location at Knoll Farm is the most beautiful place I have ever called my work home.
Apply for this great local job and many more: jobs.sevendaysvt.com
More notably, the tracks on Sans Paroles (French for “without words”) speak in strong emotional language. The mind-movies they conjure will vary from person to person, but Levinson employs some tried-and-true tactics that should guide listeners through a similar psychological journey — or maybe not. The album is highly interpretive and could spark some deep conversations.
Beginning with “Before the Fall,” Levinson seems to speculate about the blurry boundaries separating emotions. Buttressed by inquisitive strings and piano, the piece rolls from insecurity to assurance. A bit of gossamer keys
The only clues Levinson shares about what’s happening in his head are the 27 words that compose his titles. He seems preoccupied with how time moves (“before,” “until,” “again,” “after”) and is perhaps overcome with feelings of finality (“fall,” “weight,” “silence”).
Maybe his titles don’t mean anything. Maybe they’re deeply rooted in his personal life at the moment of conception. Whatever the case may be, Levinson proves he has a huge range of influences and abilities that he’s now ready to share.
Sans Paroles is available on major streaming services.
JORDAN ADAMS
WED.10
Ada Lea, Audrey Pearl (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15. BBQ and Bluegrass (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.
Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.
Maya Manuela, Frankie White (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $16.16.
Portittor, Neighbors, Fundamental Issue (punk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.
Steve Vorstadt (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.
Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.
THU.11
Alex Stewart & Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Ali T (indie, pop) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.
A Band Called Sundown (indie rock) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.
Bob Cotton (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.
Christy Pickwell (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. 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 Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
The Gallison Hill Band (folk rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.
Live Music Series (live music series) at Folino’s Pizza, Northfield, 5 p.m. Free.
Lulu Van Trapp, POLKAROBICS (rock, pop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15.
Mary Ester Carter (singersongwriter) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. $10.
Tiny Heart Explosions (folk rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Zach Nugent (Grateful Dead tribute) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.
FRI.12
Alex Stewart (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.
B-Town (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.
Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist BOB MOULD helped usher in the age of college-radio indie rock in the ’80s as front man for Hüsker Dü. The St. Paul, Minn., hardrock act was one of the most influential bands of its time, inspiring the likes of Nirvana and Spoon with its mix of heavy music and melody and ace use of dynamics. Mould left the band in 1988, beginning a long and glittering solo career that continues with his latest album, 2025’s Here We Go Crazy, which harks back to his gritty, punk-inspired early music. Mould performs at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington on Sunday, September 14, with support from punk rocker J. ROBBINS
Blue Northern (blues) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free. Blueberry Betty, Sonic Steve Orchestra (indie, folk) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. $10.
Chanterelle (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Chris Beard Band (blues) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.
Clive, Moon Dogs (jam) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10/$12.
Dana Tillinghast (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Dancin’ in the Streets with Local Strangers (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.
Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.
Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.
Dogpark, Kids That Fly (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $26.42.
Duncan MacLeod Trio (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.
George Nostrand (acoustic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.
Jerband (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.
Jesse Taylor (singer-songwriter) at Vermont Cider Lab, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.
Marsh Lights (folk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10.
Matt Hagen (acoustic) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.
Phil Abair Band, Quadra (covers) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.
Remember Baker (bluegrass, jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.
Scram! (funk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.
Swell (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.
WD-40 (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.
SAT.13
The Apollos (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.
Bad Luck Bliss (country, rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.
Bethany Conner (singersongwriter) at Vermont Cider Lab, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.
Bob Gagnon (jazz) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Devendra Barnhart, Kath Bloom (indie) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.
The Dorado Collective (cumbia) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Especially Cowboys (country) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.
The Fog (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.
Last Kid Picked (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.
Los Songoros (Latin) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.
Paul Asbell (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Rock Dog (classic rock covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $12.93.
The Shaelyn Band and Chris Beard Band (live music) at Retro Live, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 6 p.m. $20. Sleeveless Tease (covers) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.
Soundhound, Wet Denim (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10.
StevieMac (Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks tribute) at Double E Performance Center’s T-Rex Theater, Essex, 7 p.m. $30.
Uncle John’s Band (covers) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 2 p.m. Free.
SUN.14
April Patterson Clemens & Cobalt Tolbert (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.
Bob Mould, J. Robbins (rock, punk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $42.84.
Death Before Dishonor, Street Power, O.N.E., Dead Solace, Set the Bar Low (hardcore) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6:30 p.m. $15.
Mama Tried (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.
The P.A.’s, sunstray (prog rock, shoegaze) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.
Simon Joyner, Leah Senior (singer-songwriter) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 6 p.m. $19.24/$24.70.
Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.
MON.15
Night Moves, Raybody (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $22.95.
TUE.16
Abigail Dempsey, Zoe Lemon, Ahna Ell, riverbed (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.
Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.
Bob Recupero (singer-songwriter) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.
Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.
Grooveasaurus, Izzy Rae Jones, Olivia Deschenes (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Honky Tonk Tuesday with Queen City Cut-Ups (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. Sprezzatura (jazz) at Original Skiff Fish + Oysters, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.
WED.17
BBQ and Bluegrass (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Devon McGarry (singersongwriter) at Vermont Cider Lab, Essex, 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.
Johanna Rose & the Dreamboats, the Bandit Queen of Sorrows (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.
UVM Songwriter’s Circle Showcase (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.
Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10. Zinadelphia, Jesse Taylor Band (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $26.42.
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WED.10
Burly Bears Annual Pride Day Community Celebration & Fundraiser (fundraiser) at Red Square, Burlington, 4 p.m. donation.
DJ Chalango, DJ Tarzana Salsa Night (salsa, DJ) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.
THU.11
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.
Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
Meg, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.
Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.
Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
FRI.12
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.
Latin Night: Summer Series (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5-$10.
Pink Floyd Listening Room: Dark Side of the Moon (DJ) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.
SAT.13
DJ Fattie B (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.
DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.
Gimme Gimme Disco (Abba tribute, disco) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $26.42.
Kate Kush, Slaytt (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.
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.
SUN.14
DJ Cheetah (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.
TUE.16
Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
WED.10
Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.
Swamp Grass
When Burlington musicians Colby and Ryan Crehan returned to the Green Mountains after years of living on the West Coast and spending time in Eastern Europe, they reunited with their former bandmates from the defunct project PossumHaw. They formed a new band called MARSH LIGHTS and picked up where they left off, playing bluegrass-flavored folk music with soaring harmonies and gorgeous acoustic arrangements. With a gothic tint to its songs, Marsh Lights’ “debut” album, Cover the Water, dropped in the spring, beginning a new era for the band. Marsh Lights play Light Club Lamp Shop in Burlington on Friday, September 12.
THU.11
Old Time Jam (open jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
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.
SUN.14
Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.
MON.15
Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.
WED.17
Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.
WED.10
$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.
THU.11
Big Pond Improv Festival (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 8:15 p.m. $11.99.
FRI.12
Big Pond Improv Festival (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5, 6, 7, 8:15, 9:30 & 10:30 p.m. $11.99. Wit & Wine (comedy) at Shelburne Vineyard, 8 p.m. $10.
SAT.13
Big Pond Improv Festival (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 4:30, 6, 7, 8:15, 9:30 & 10:30 p.m. $11.99.
Drew Dunn (comedy) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $32.06.
Mind Magic: A Night of Laughter and Astonishment at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $27.
SUN.14
Big Pond Improv Festival (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5, 6 & 7 p.m. $11.99.
TUE.16
Open Mic Comedy with Levi Silverstein (comedy open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Sex With Jenna Trivia & Games (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $11.99.
WED.17
$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.
SAT.13
DRAG: A Rhedd Rhumm Event (drag) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. $15.
Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.
SUN.14
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.15
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.16
trivia, karaoke, etc.
WED.10
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.11
Boogie Bingo (musical bingo) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.
Line Dancing & Two-Step Night (dance) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 6 p.m. Free.
Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.
Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.
FRI.12
Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.
Untapped: A Night of Drag & Burly-Q (drag) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $15.
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 (trivia) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.
Trivia Night: Star Wars (Star Wars 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.
WED.17
Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.
Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.
Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.
Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.
Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆
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.
GROWING & USING CULINARY
HERBS: AARP Vermont and the Vermont Garden Network beckon green thumbs to a hands-on workshop covering topics such as plant identification, pruning techniques and harvesting. Intervale Center, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 866-227-7451.
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.
DEATH CAFÉ: Community members gain new perspective with an open-ended conversation about all things death and dying. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.
SHINE: A PARTY WITH A PURPOSE: Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence hosts an evening of connection, music, food and drinks as attendees envision a violence-free future. Burlington Beer, 6-9 p.m. $50-150 sliding scale; preregister. Info, charlie@ vtnetwork.org.
CREATING PERSONAL NARRATIVES THROUGH ART: Vermont artist Ferene Paris leads attendees in crafting their own unique book covers that visually and textually represent their identities. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-3338.
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.
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.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘THE T.A.M.I. SHOW’: Steve Binder’s 1964 music documentary captures the raw energy of the era’s “teenage music,” showcasing electric performances by James Brown and the Rolling Stones. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7 p.m. $8. Info, 387-0102.
‘THE ROUTE TO EMANCIPATION’: Community members gather for a screening and discussion of a powerful documentary following three Black cyclists as they embark on a 350-mile route through Texas to the site where Juneteenth began in 1865. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15. Info, contact@colorthevalley.com.
food & drink
COMMUNITY COOKING:
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.
VERMONT CHEESE ADVENTURE DINNER: A four-course feast celebrates the products of 10 different Green Mountain State creameries, from Jasper Hill and Cabot to lesser-known hidden gems. Shelburne Farms, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $181. Info, sas@adventuredinner.com.
health & fitness
CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
lgbtq
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.
THE ALBANY SOUND: A local band plays a rich combination of country, folk and rock originals, paired with renditions of rarities by John Prine, Bobby Charles and other noteworthy names. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 643-2237.
HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP
BROWN BAG SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Live music by local talent comes to the heart of downtown Montpelier, showcasing a diverse mix of artists and genres throughout the season. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.
MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER
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.
PIZZA SOCIAL: Foodies scarf down dinner baked in NOFAVT’s wood-fired oven, followed by a tour of the certified organic vegetable farm. Trillium Hill Farm, Hinesburg, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $15-30 sliding scale; free for BIPOC; preregister. Info, 419-0082.
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
Economic Opportunity helps tenants financially prepare and access resources to meet their housing needs. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-3456. ‘WOOF! WHAT IS THE DOG SAYING?’: Gold Star Dog Training cofounder Deb Helfrich shares facts about common pup-human misunderstandings and demystifies our four-legged friends’ unique ways of communicating. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.
GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE
TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.
talks
HENRY MARCKRES: A retired maple specialist from the Vermont Department of Agriculture shares a career’s worth of fascinating and entertaining stories in his talk “All Things Maple.” Brookfield Old Town Hall, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, abelisle2@comcast.net.
theater
‘OUR DOMESTIC RESURRECTION REVOLUTION IN PROGRESS
CIRCUS!’: Bread and Puppet’s spectacular summer show mystifies and delights with colorful puppetry, towering stilters and papier-mâché beasts. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 5:30-8 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, info@campmeade.today.
CONCERT SERIES: Outdoor music lovers revel in unforgettable weekly performances at this vibrant celebration of community. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3500.
CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR:
Cyclists roll through a pastoral 20-mile trail ride, then enjoy artisan eats, including Vermont’s award-wining cheddar. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, noon4 p.m. $120. Info, 730-0161.
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE:
With a new design every year, this sprawling labyrinth presents a fresh challenge for fall-time revelers. Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville, Through October 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $15-30; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 397-8574.
‘BIG STUFF’: Acclaimed comedy duo Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus deliver a signature mix of storytelling and improvisation in this hilarious and heartfelt exploration of what we leave behind. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 1 & 7:30 p.m. $33-80. Info, 514-739-7944.
seminars
SUSTAINING THE RENT
WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of
‘SUMMER OF SAVINGS: HOW VERMONT SAVES WILL HELP EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE UNCERTAINTY & SUPPORT WORKERS’: Neighbors gather for a morning of coffee and conversation with state Treasurer Mike Pieciak about Vermont’s new gap-filling retirement program. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 8:309:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 748-8291.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: Curious minds connect with representatives from the Burlington Electric Department and receive answers to questions about its services. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
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 all experience levels 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 tools and equipment in the makerspace. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50. Info, 382-1012.
words
ANGELA PATTEN & SCUDDER
PARKER: Two renowned Vermont poets share their latest volumes of prose and verse, Feeding the Wild Rabbit and The Poem of the World respectively. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.
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.
KELLEY MARKETING GROUP MIX & MINGLE: Experienced and budding professionals alike meet up to develop new connections, rekindle existing relationships and learn how to get involved with the group. Light refreshments provided. Karma Bird House, Burlington, 5-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, kelleymarketinggroupvt@ gmail.com.
RUTLAND FALL JOB FEST: Job seekers meet with employers who are actively hiring at this outdoor event sponsored by the Vermont Department of Labor, HireAbility and Catamount Radio. Depot Park, Rutland, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 786-5837.
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.
BARK & BREW SERIES: Pups romp around the play yard while pet owners quench their thirst with local craft beers. Humane Society of Chittenden County, South Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $20; includes two drinks. Info, 862-0135.
A TOAST TO THE TI: History buffs raise a glass to the National Historic Landmark in honor of its 70th anniversary on the museum grounds. See calendar spotlight. Shelburne Museum, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $70. Info, 985-3346.
HARVEST FEST: Autumn lovers get in on a chili competition, family-friendly activities, live music and a “Vikings feast” complete with an exclusive mead from Groennfell Meadery. St. Albans Bay Park, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-7589.
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.
CURRENTLY SPEAKING SERIES:
‘DISRUPT(ED)’: Folks take in a topical documentary exploring the media’s declining state and the health of our democracy. A discussion follows. The Current, Stowe, 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 253-8358.
MOVIES ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD SERIES: Cinephiles file in for a four-week showcase of Vermont-made documentaries centered on activism, including post-screening discussions with the filmmakers. Bellows Falls Opera House, 6:30 p.m. $18-54. Info, 463-3964, ext. 1120.
‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: Footage of paleontological digs from around the globe tells a compelling story of scientists working as detectives to answer questions about an ancient and mysterious ocean world. Dealer. com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: Astrophiles witness history in the making — from launching rockets without fuel to building the Lunar Gateway — in this 2024 documentary narrated by Chris Pine. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain,
Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
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.
BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 522-3523.
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.
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.
lgbtq
FEAST & FIELD: QUEER DANCE
PARTY: Proud people boogie down at this lively event featuring farm-fresh foods and spectacular sets spun by area DJs. Fable Farm, Barnard, 6 p.m. $5-25. Info, 234-1645.
music
PICKIN’ CIRCLE: High-octane bluegrass tunes by Good Gravy and Boxcar Breakdown set the tone for a lively jam sesh. Proceeds benefit the North Hyde Park Community Trust. Gihon Valley Hall, Hyde
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.
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: Museumgoers 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
Picture this: It’s 1955. You’re buzzing around town in your candy apple-red Chevy Bel Air when suddenly — there, on the horizon — you see the 220-foot steamboat Ticonderoga, making its way to Shelburne Museum. Smash cut to 2025, and that very same vessel is still sitting pretty, landlocked on the museum grounds. History buffs, neighbors and friends gather on the gangway to honor the beloved National Historic Landmark (and the last walking beam side-wheel passenger steamer in existence) with A Toast to the Ti. The nautical icon’s 70-year milestone takes center stage with libations, light bites and expert insight into current restoration projects.
Thursday, September 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Shelburne Museum. $70. See website for more commemorative events through Sunday, September 14. Info, 985-3346, shelburnemuseum.org.
and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, ongoing, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
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.
CONNECT & PLAY: A Theraplay-inspired drop-in group strengthens parent-child bonds through joyful structured activities. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.
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.
PARENTING THE THERAPLAY WAY: Experts Carolynn Nagao Marcotte and Katie Wessels teach parents and caregivers how to promote positive mental health through play. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.
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.
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.
PLAYING FIELDS: The Flynn presents a back-to-school party for students, families and neighbors, featuring a raucous street show by Compagnie OFF. Middlebury Union Middle School, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.
SENSORY STORY HOUR: APPLES: Little learners gather in the orchard for a hands-on adventure using special tools for picking, peeling and preparing the autumnal fruit. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $10-12; preregister. Info, 457-2355.
Park, 6-10 p.m. $10-15 suggested donation; cash only. Info, gihonvalleyhall@gmail.com.
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.10.
québec
‘BIG STUFF’: See WED.10, 7:30 p.m.
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.
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.
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.
SCAM & FRAUD AWARENESS & PREVENTION: Federal and state experts shed light on common scammer tactics, practical prevention strategies and what to do if you’re targeted. A Q&A follows. Essex Free Library, noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.
‘SAVING TINDERELLA’: Rough & So Ready theater company mounts an original tragicomedy about one millennial’s search for love in the world of online dating. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 7-9:30 p.m. $15-20 sliding scale. Info, 498-7927.
‘A TASTE OF IRELAND’: Attendees channel their inner Dubliner and jig the night away at a spectacle of light and sound, featuring former Irish dance world champions and performers from touring companies Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $45-75. Info, 603-448-0400.
‘WATERSHED’: Dirt Road Theater raises the curtain on an original drama by Vermont playwright Susan Palmer, exploring the narratives we construct to feel safe in a changing world. The Gray Space, Northfield, 7 p.m. $20. Info, dirtroadtheater@gmail.com.
words
BAILEY SEYBOLT: A Vermont author dives into her debut thriller, Coram House, in conversation with fellow writer Flynn Berry. The Norwich Bookstore, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.
DR. ARVIND NARAYANAN: A professor of computer science and coauthor of AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t and How to Tell the Difference explores the topic that has created both excitement and anxiety about the future. A Q&A follows. McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 654-2588.
KATY FARBER: A Vermont writer and educator invites lit lovers to celebrate the release of her newest thriller, The Board, followed by delightful fall treats, a Q&A and other surprises. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 4:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.com.
‘LOVE IS FOR ALL OF US’: Celebrated Vermont poets James Crews, Brad Peacock and Bianca Amira Zanella launch their new poetry anthology gathered from a diverse group of contemporary writers, with special focus on queer, nonbinary and transgender authors. Phoenix Books, Rutland, 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 855-8078.
MORNING BOOK GROUP: Readers swap thoughts on Esmeralda Santiago’s riveting autobiography, When I Was Puerto Rican. South Burlington Public Library & City 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.
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 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
‘THE WATER RUNS THROUGH IT: TOOLS FOR WATER’: Artists Michelle Samour and Sue Rees join forces with dancers Souleymane Badolo and Abdoul Aziz Dermé to explore the politicization of water access in this collaborative performance. A Q&A follows. See calendar spotlight. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 257-0124, ext. 101.
etc.
JANE AUSTEN WEEKEND:
‘PERSUASION’: A leisurely weekend of literary-inspired diversions includes carriage rides, English tea, a Regency-style dinner party, Sunday brunch, a book quiz and talks. Governor’s House in Hyde Park, 8 p.m. Various prices. Info, 888-6888.
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.
‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.
THE ARTS FILM FESTIVAL: Cinephiles get pumped for a three-day extravaganza complete with a reception, panel discussions and screenings in an intimate, art-focused setting. Great North Woods Center for the Arts, Columbia, N.H., 5:30 p.m. $10-150. Info, 603-246-8998.
FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL:
Comedy writers Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher take viewers on a guided tour of their greatest VHS finds, including two homemade Bigfoot tapes and a video catalog of frightening porcelain dolls. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, 7:30-10 p.m. $15-20. Info, info@ epsilonspires.org.
At Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, artists Michelle Samour and Sue Rees join forces with dancers Souleymane Badolo and Abdoul Aziz Dermé for “The Water Runs Through It: Tools for Water” — an interdisciplinary performance reflecting on the politicization of H2O. The collaborative piece personifies Samour’s current art installation in the group show “Making Space,” using a dowsing rod — a divination apparatus used to find groundwater — as a symbol of how access and distribution lie exclusively in the hands of only a few people in power. Stay put after the show for a thought-provoking Q&A with the performers.
‘THE WATER RUNS THROUGH IT: TOOLS FOR WATER’ Friday, September 12, 7:30 p.m., at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Free; preregister. Info, 257-0124, ext. 101, brattleboromuseum.org.
‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.
‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.
‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.
‘SPIES’: Composer Jeff Rapsis plays a live score for Fritz Lang’s action-packed silent thriller
complete with secret documents, high-tech gadgets, an evil mastermind and one very dangerous woman. Brandon Town Hall, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 603-236-9237.
ADVENTURE DINNER
FARMER’S TABLE DINNER: Whole-animal cooking gets
its moment at this five-course meal featuring Waitsfield’s 5th Quarter Butcher + Provisions. Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 5:30-8 p.m. $75. Info, sas@adventuredinner.com.
BILLINGS BACKYARD MIXOLOGY WORKSHOP: LAST TASTE OF SUMMER: Guests ages 21 and up shake, stir and sip their way through three vibrant cocktails
inspired by the deeper, earthier flavors of the end-of-season harvest. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 5:30-7 p.m. $140-150. Info, 457-2355.
RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: An open-air marketplace complete with live music connects cultivators and fresh-food browsers. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free; cost of goods. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com. games
DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.11, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. health & fitness
THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION
EXERCISE PROGRAM: Anne Greshin leads participants in 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.
language
ITALIAN CONVERSATION:
Advanced and intermediate speakers practice their skills at a conversazione based on the “News in Slow Italian” podcast. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
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.
BABINEAU/CHARTRAND: A lively duo uses fiddle, acoustic guitar, baroque violin and foot percussion to offer a captivating journey through Québec’s musical traditions. Studio One, Vermont Public Radio, Colchester, 7 p.m. $20 suggested donation; cash or check. Info, mark.sustic@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY SING-ALONG:
Local musician Rich Grumbine leads neighbors in a lively lineup of tunes spanning from golden oldies to gospel, with lyrics projected on the big screen. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:15 p.m. Free. Info, 387-0102.
FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC: New vinos, hopping live tunes, tasty food truck provisions and picnic blankets make for a relaxing evening among the vines. See lincolnpeakvineyard.com for lineup. Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7368.
GRAND POINT NORTH: Vermont’s own Grace Potter awes fans with help from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and other renowned talent for an outdoor music extravaganza to remember. Partial proceeds benefit the Grand Point Foundation. Waterfront Park, Burlington, 4:30 p.m. $54; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 652-0777.
HOUSE OF HAMILL: A Pennsylvania folk band plays compelling works with irresistible hooks and sophisticated arrangements. Court Street Arts at Alumni Hall, Haverhill, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $25. Info, 603-989-5500.
MIDDLEBURY CARILLON SERIES: Bells ring out across the campus in weekly performances by a rotating cast of extraordinary carillonneurs. See middlebury.edu for lineup. Middlebury Chapel, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3168.
PAUL ORGEL: A lauded pianist plays a vast, varied repertoire of works by his favorite composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10-25. Info, 864-0471.
SARASA ENSEMBLE: A collective of international instrumentalists and vocalists performs “@1775: Boston, London, Paris & Vienna,” featuring works by William Billings, Thomas Arne, Giacobbe Cervetto and other great composers of the time. Brattleboro Music Center, 7-9 p.m. $25. Info, 257-4523.
SOPHIE SHAO & FRIENDS: The distinguished cellist leads an all-female ensemble in stunning sonatas and piano trios. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:309:30 p.m. $5-30. Info, 443-6433.
SUMMER MUSIC AT GRACE SERIES: UNCLE JOHN’S BAND: A Franklin group runs the musical gamut with a concert of classic rock, pop and folk covers, peppered with some original tunes for good measure. Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, beth.daybell@gmail.com.
VT BLUEGRASS PIONEERS: Four local stalwarts of the genre honor the hard-driving tradition of first-generation bluegrass with passion, heart and soul. Adamant Community Club, 7:30 p.m. $15; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 454-7103.
CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.10.
E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.11.
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.10.
EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT FOR EVERYONE FALL LECTURE SERIES: JEFFREY AYRES: A
Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art
Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art. film
See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.
music + nightlife
Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.
Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.
= ONLINE EVENT =
professor of political science at Saint Michael’s College sheds light on Canada-U.S. relations during the second Trump administration. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2-3 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members. Info, 395-1818.
WAM!: Invited artists present a chosen work — or selection of works — and speak to their practice, background, motivations, challenges and current path. A Q&A follows. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Info, stonevalleyartscenter@ gmail.com.
‘SAVING TINDERELLA’: See THU.11.
‘A TASTE OF IRELAND’: See FRI.11. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $42-73. Info, 863-5966. ‘WATERSHED’: See THU.11.
words
FOOD & ART FRIDAY: VERMONT
POETS: Green Mountain poet laureate Bianca Stone and acclaimed Afrofuturist author Toussaint St. Negritude share inspiring works while Fat Dragon Farm slings wood-fired pizzas. Sable Project, Stockbridge, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $5-20 suggested donation. Info, bex@ thesableproject.org.
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.
FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK SALE: Lit lovers browse a wide array of gently used titles. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free; cost of books. Info, 846-4140.
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; cost of items. Info, 528-7951.
SHARE YOUR FLOOD STORY: Efficiency Vermont invites those affected by the 2023 and 2024 summer floods to recount their experiences in an effort to help inform future support services. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.
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
GNOME SWEET GNOME: Crafty participants create a cheerful autumn figure. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.
dance
CONTRA DANCE: New and experienced dancers groove to live music by Red Dog Riley and steps called by Mary Wesley. Cornwall Town Hall, 7-9:30 p.m. $5-10 sliding scale. Info, 462-3722.
DANCING WITH THE
BURLINGTON STARS: Local celebs grace the stage with professional dance instructors in an eye-catching spectacle supporting the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $20.50-31. Info, 863-1358.
VERMONT’S WILD FUTURE: CONSERVATION IN ACTION: Environmentally minded folks join up for an afternoon blending field exploration with inspiring dialogue, featuring expert insights and a guided hike through the center’s trails. Merck Forest and Farmland Center, Rupert, 2-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 394-7836. etc.
50TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY: Buffalo Mountain Market celebrates half a century in operation with live music, fabulous food, family-friendly activities and limited-edition merch. Atkins Field, Hardwick, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 472-6677.
DOWNTOWN BLOCK PARTIES: Neighbors gather for live music, delectable food options, community-building and convivial activities. Rotary Park, Winooski, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@ downtownwinooski.org.
FRIGHT BY FLASHLIGHT:
Adventurous attendees become experts in vintage ghost-hunting techniques and scholars of paranormal lore. Ages 12 and up. Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25; preregister. Info, 413426-7572.
THE JUSTIN MORGAN
CELEBRATION: The historic horse breeder and composer is honored at a gathering complete with food vendors and trotting races. Justin Morgan Historical Marker, Randolph, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 763-2516.
AUTUMN WILDLIFE
CELEBRATION: A nod to the changing seasons includes tree identification, strolls along the canopy, fall crafts, migration exploration and raptor feeding time. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-20; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000.
NORMAN’S ATTIC FALL FEST: A quaint street fair draws a crowd with baked goods, antiques, handcrafted jewelry, artwork and vinyl. St. James Episcopal Church, Arlington, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 375-9952.
WHOOPIE PIE FESTIVAL: The classic New England confection gets its due as local bakers compete for best bite. Music, food trucks, a fun run/walk and family-friendly events sweeten the deal. Downtown Rutland, noon-4 p.m. Free; $1 tasting tickets. Info, dominique@ rutlandeconomy.com.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.
THE ARTS FILM FESTIVAL: See FRI.12, 10 a.m.
‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.
‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.
‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.
‘WOJNAROWICZ: F**K YOU F*GGOT F**KER’: Audience members take in a fiery documentary portrait of New York City artist, writer, photographer and activist David Wojnarowicz. Hall Art Foundation, Reading, 4 p.m. Regular admission, $5-15. Info, info@hallartfoundation.org.
BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET: Dozens of stands overflow with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.
CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: More than 35 vendors showcase their farm-fresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies, backed by sets of live local music. Champlain Islands Farmers Market, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, champlainislandsfarmersmkt@ gmail.com.
JANE AUSTEN TEA: Regency revelers jam out at a Victorianstyle tea party while learning about the teatime traditions of the writer’s era. Governor’s House in Hyde Park, 2:30-4:30 p.m. $42; preregister. Info, 888-6888.
MARSHFIELD FARMERS MARKET: Locavores find much to do at an outdoor offering replete with live music by Vecchio Stile, a community canning skillshare with Kym Winchell and Donna Hisson, and a jams and jellies resource swap. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.
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.
Eisner Award-winning Argentinean cartoonist Liniers and Vermont author Angelica Del Campo make waves at the Norwich Bookstore with a celebration and signing of their brand-new illustrated work, The Ghost of Wreckers Cove. Best known for his whimsical New Yorker covers and daily comic strip “Macanudo” — which has appeared in South American newspaper La Nación since 2002 — Liniers brings to life Del Campo’s twisty tale through his colorful and imaginative drawings. Based on the real-life story of a 19th-century lightkeeper in Maine, the book’s plot follows two mystery-solving young girls and their unexpected introduction to the unusual world of lighthouse tenders. Expect supernatural activity, shipwrecks and lore galore.
LINIERS & ANGELICA DEL CAMPO
Saturday, September 13, 2-3 p.m., at the Norwich Bookstore. Free. Info, 649-1114, norwichbookstore.com.
Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, cfmamanager@gmail.com.
CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.
MAH-JONGG: Tile traders face off in the ancient Chinese game often compared to gin rummy and poker. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.
BRAIN FREEZER 5K: Runners with stomachs of steel hit the pavement for a cause, pausing only to down a pint of local ice cream. Proceeds benefit People Helping People Global. North Beach, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. $40; preregister. Info, 373-1562.
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.
and plenty of food options. Rotary Park, Winooski, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@downtownwinooski.org.
music
ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.12.
BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES: THE GASLIGHT TINKERS WITH SAMMY & BROTHERS: A double bill electrifies listeners with a funky fusion of African, Caribbean, reggae and Latin grooves. Cooper Field, Putney, 5 p.m. $22-25; free for kids under 12. Info, 387-0102.
GRAND POINT NORTH: See FRI.12. LIVE IN THE ORCHARD CONCERT SERIES: OTTER CREEK: The local bluegrass band plays old-timey tunes that get those toes tappin’ and fingers snappin’. Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2753.
MARSH LIGHTS: A Vermont acoustic roots quintet performs original progressive bluegrass and folk songs. Recovery Lounge, Upper Jay Art Center, N.Y., 8-10 p.m. $15. Info, info@upperjayartcenter.org.
‘WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS: AN EVENING WITH EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER’: This ain’t no tribute act! Through the use of projected video footage and technological advancements, Carl Palmer reunites on stage with late bandmates Keith Emerson and Greg Lake for a performance to remember. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7-9 p.m. $49-69. Info, 775-0903.
CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.10.
E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.11. FALL BIRDING: Avian enthusiasts of all experience levels embark on an excursion to seek out feathered friends in flight. Shelburne Farms, 8-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 434-3068.
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.10.
OUT IN THE OPEN SUMMIT: A weekend of field trips, discussions and presentations gets to the heart of the rural and small-town LGBTQ experience. See weareoutintheopen.org for full schedule. Green Mountain Camp, Dummerston. Various prices; preregister. Info, info@ weareoutintheopen.org.
RAINBOW HARVEST FEST: Mosaic Vermont hosts a supportive celebration of the queer community, complete with interactive workshops, relationship-building activities and joyous art making. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 476-1388.
WINOOSKI PRIDE: The Onion City throws an activity-packed shindig celebrating LGBTQ rights and culture with music, drag, lawn games
Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art
Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.
film
See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.
music + nightlife
Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.
Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11. = ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON
‘BIG STUFF’: See WED.10, 7:30 p.m.
sports
LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHALLENGE
RACE: Rowing crews and other human-powered vessels compete to set the fastest time for their respective categories on a threemile course. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. $30; preregister. Info, 475-2022.
SPARTAN RACE: Iron-willed athletes tackle steep slopes and muddy waters on challenging, brag-worthy courses. See spartan. com for full schedule. Killington Resort. Various prices; preregister. Info, 800-734-9435.
DICK SMITH: A local author and historian discusses various historical firsts and notable achievements associated with Vermont. Poultney Public Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 287-5556.
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.
‘CUBO’: Direct from Italy, eVenti Verticali electrifies viewers with a soaring suspended stage that transforms into a kaleidoscope
of bodies, lights and shadows. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 1 & 6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.
‘SAVING TINDERELLA’: See THU.11.
‘A TASTE OF IRELAND’: See FRI.11. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State UniversityJohnson, 7:30 p.m. $42-62. Info, 748-2600.
‘WATERSHED’: See THU.11, 2 & 7 p.m.
words
BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS: A wide array of like-new titles spanning subjects from art history to gardening goes on sale to benefit Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society charities. Dormition Greek Orthodox Church, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; cost of books. Info,
greekladiesphiloptochosvt@ gmail.com.
FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.12. FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
LINIERS & ANGELICA DEL CAMPO: An award-winning cartoonist and a Vermont author launch their new book, The Ghost of Wreckers Cove about two mystery-solving young girls and an abandoned lighthouse. See calendar spotlight. The Norwich Bookstore, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.
PHOENIX BOOKS PRESENTS: THE PEOPLE’S PROJECT: Author Alexander Chee moderates a timely discussion with writers Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith in celebration of their new collection
of poems, essays and visual art, inspired by conversations in the wake of the 2024 election. A signing follows. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 7 p.m. $30; includes copy. Info, 872-7111.
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.
SILENT READING PARTY: Waterbury Public Library invites bookworms to savor their current read — quietly, of course! Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co., Waterbury Center, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
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.
crafts YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.10, 1-3 p.m. fairs & festivals
10 a.m.-6 p.m. $24-60. Info, info@redwagonplants.com.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.
THE ARTS FILM FESTIVAL: See FRI.12, 10 a.m.
‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.
‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A
PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.
‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.
food & drink
WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET: Area growers and bakers offer ethnic fare, assorted harvests and agricultural products 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.11, 1-4:30 p.m.
health & fitness
AIRPEYTON MEMORIAL 5K: In honor of late Montpelier High School graduate Peyton Smith, community members hit the pavement to raise funds for pediatric cancer research through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Raffles, food truck offerings, lawn games and music complete the day. Virtual option available. Montpelier High School, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $30; preregister. Info, mdpsmith02@yahoo.com.
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 practice together in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@ gmail.com.
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.
OUT IN THE OPEN SUMMIT: See SAT.13.
music
THE ALEX RILEY COMBO: Lit lovers enjoy live tunes by the local jazz guitarist and his musical friends. The Norwich Bookstore, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.
GRAND POINT NORTH: See FRI.12, 7 p.m.
GRAND POINT NORTH CONCERT
SERIES: GOOSE: SOLD OUT. The cult-favorite band displays its trademark combo of stunning improvisations, head-spinning
hooks and technical fireworks. Waterfront Park, Burlington, 7 p.m. Wait list available. Info, 652-0777.
NORTH RIVER MUSIC: An Americana group plays rock, bluegrass and country covers with expressive musicianship. Court Street Arts at Alumni Hall, Haverhill, N.H., 4 p.m. By donation. Info, 603-989-5500.
PHIL HENRY & THE NEWS FEED:
A multi-instrumentalist and his band wow listeners with an Americana performance featuring powerful vocals, captivating storytelling and deft playing. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 4-6 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, plainfieldartsvt@gmail.com.
TRIO LÉGÈRE: Pianist Bethany Blake, oboist Alicia Chapman and soprano Gail Whitehouse combine forces to awe listeners with a program spanning composers from Johann Sebastian Bach to Claude Debussy. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.
WESTFORD MUSIC SERIES:
HOWLING WATERS: Fans of classic bluegrass enjoy a lively show, courtesy of this outstanding trio. Westford Common Hall, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 879-4028.
outdoors
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.10.
québec
‘BIG STUFF’: See WED.10, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
sports
SPARTAN RACE: See SAT.13.
theater
‘CUBO’: See SAT.13. ‘SAVING TINDERELLA’: See THU.11.
words
LARIA ZYLBER: An author signs copies of her latest release, The Blue Tent, featuring expanded and imaginative takes on stories from the Torah. Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.
WORDS OUT LOUD: KNOWING BY HEART: Vermont authors discuss their works at this weekly fall reading series, offering listeners insight into their written worlds. Old West Church, Calais, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 223-6613.
crafts
FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.
HAND-STITCHING GROUP: Embroiderers, cross-stitchers and other needlework aficionados chat over their latest projects. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, northwaringa@gmail.com.
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.
‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.
‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.
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.
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.
BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.
outdoors
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.10.
‘BIG STUFF’: See WED.10, 7:30 p.m.
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.
GRATEFUL GATHERINGS: Trained facilitators Lori York and Mary Wentworth lead deep conversations exploring topics such as embracing mystery, creating joy and navigating grief. Waterbury Public Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.
ALL HANDS TOGETHER
COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.
CRAFTERS DROP-IN: Community members converse and connect through knitting, crocheting, mending, embroidery and other creative pursuits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
dance
LEARN TO SQUARE DANCE: Swing your partner ’round and ’round!
The Lake Champlain Squares show the way at an introductory class. Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 497-4638.
SWING DANCE PRACTICE
SESSION: All ages and experience levels shake a leg in this friendly, casual environment designed for learning. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-9:30 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.
‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.
‘ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL’: With the help of punk band the Ramones, a group of music-loving students takes on an oppressive school administration. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.
‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.
‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.
games
DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.11.
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.
‘HEALTH BITES & INSIGHTS: PREPARE TO GET THE CARE YOU NEED’: University of Vermont staff offer strategies and resources to help attendees optimize their next doctor’s visit. Lunch provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
QI GONG: Students of this ancient Chinese practice 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. language
FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP: French-speakers and learners 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.
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.10. québec
‘BIG STUFF’: See WED.10, 7:30 p.m.
FINDING HOUSING WORKSHOP: Attendees build an apartment-search tool kit with guidance from the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. Noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456.
THE LAURA MANN INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE LECTURE SERIES: LISA TAYLOR-SWANSON: A clinician and researcher in the fields of women’s health and traditional East Asian medicine presents “Supporting Women’s Health Across the Lifespan With Acupuncture Therapy.” Davis Auditorium, Medical Education Center Pavilion, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 656-7921.
tech
HARDWARE HACKNIGHT: Local founders link up with data company DeskHog for a hands-on evening spent playing with sensors, motherboards and encoders. Refreshments provided. Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 201-450-8740.
TECH FREEBIES: SAVING MONEY WITH LIBRARY RESOURCES: Folks looking to cut costs join up with a digital specialist to explore the variety of free online services that the library has to offer. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
words
BETH MALOW & DOUG
TESCHNER: The Upper Valley coauthors discuss their timely book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times Quechee Public Library, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 295-1232.
BOOK CLUB BUFFET: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites readers to dissect Alice Hoffman’s The Museum of Extraordinary Things over a virtual lunch. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, daml@damlvt. org.
BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Bookworms analyze Vladimir Nabokov’s 1969 novel Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle over the course of eight weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@nereadersandwriters.com.
DEEP CUTS BOOK CLUB: Readers gather to discuss Helen Garner’s 1984 novella, The Children’s Bach, about a couple who face a crisis when an old flame reenters the picture. The Norwich Bookstore, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.
ELETTRA PAULETTO: Phoenix Books and the Vermont Italian Cultural Association present a virtual evening with the translator of The Letter Carrier by Francesca Giannone. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.
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.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN: See WED.10.
NORTHEASTERN OLD GROWTH CONFERENCE: Scientists, conservationists, policy makers, health professionals, writers and artists gather to share knowledge and cultivate a future with more wildlands. Virtual option available. Bread Loaf Campus, Ripton. Various prices; preregister. Info, oldgrowth2025@gmail.com.
crafts
YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.10.
dance
‘THE INSTITUTE FOR FOLDING’: Viewers take in an interdisciplinary work that explores our human relationship to knowledge through movement, language, live sound and 30 sheets of cardboard. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30 p.m. $520. Info, info@vermontdance.org.
environment
VERMONT LAND TRUST ANNUAL CELEBRATION: HONORING OUR INTERDEPENDENCE: Conservationists enjoy an evening of field walks, refreshments, new connections and community awards. Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, 4-7 p.m. $25; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 262-3765.
etc.
CHAMP MASTERS
TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Dealer.com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, champmasterstm@gmail.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.
food & drink
COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.10.
health & fitness
CHAIR YOGA: See WED.10.
language
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.
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS: Bad-to-the-bone listeners file in for the longtime singer-songwriter’s amp-blasting, roof-shaking rock party, known as the “Baddest Show on Earth Tour.” Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7-9 p.m. $69-149. Info, 775-0903.
MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.10.
SUNDAY MORNING: An eclectic band plays a rich combination of tunes ranging from soft piano jazz to banjo-driven country with an occasional Latin twist. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 643-2237.
CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.10.
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.10.
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.
barre/montpelier
POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.
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.
champlain islands/ northwest
PLAYING FIELDS: See WED.10. Georgia Elementary & Middle School, St. Albans, 6 p.m.
randolph/royalton
TUNBRIDGE WORLD’S FAIR: The beloved annual tradition celebrates the kid in all of us with an array of food, farm animals and fun for everyone. Tunbridge World’s Fairgrounds, 7 a.m.8 p.m. $10-50; free for children under 12. Info, info@tunbridgeworldsfair.com.
northeast kingdom
ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.
GUIDED SHORT TRAIL HIKE: Green Mountain Club staff lead hikers on a 0.7-mile trek, offering up useful tips and tricks along the way. Dogs welcome. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7037.
‘BIG STUFF’: See WED.10.
GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.10.
burlington
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.
PLAYING FIELDS: See WED.10. Edmunds Elementary School, Burlington, 6 p.m.
chittenden county
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 dropin 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.
TUNBRIDGE WORLD’S FAIR: See THU.11, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
upper valley
STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.
northeast kingdom
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.
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.
FLYNNZONE KIDS HOUR: MUSIC & MOVEMENT WITH MISS EMMA: The local legend leads little ones and their caregivers in joyful song and dance to explore the changing seasons and celebrate everyday moments. The Flynn, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.
SPLASH DANCE: Kiddos soak up sunshine and fun in the fountain while DJs
CONSTELLATION TALK: Just what are we looking at in the night sky? Reps from the Vermont Astronomical Society teach listeners about common celestial sightings. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
JAY CRAVEN: In “Vermont Movies? Why? And How?,” a local filmmaker describes the satisfactions and challenges that come from a deep immersion into place-based
spin family-friendly tracks. Burlington City Hall Park, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, eindorato@burlingtoncityarts.org.
TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE: Athletes ages 4 to 9 pick up sticks and give the game a shot in a safe environment with trained coaching staff. Equipment available to borrow. Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 377-5790.
chittenden county
FRENCH STORY TIME: Kids of all ages listen and learn to native speaker Romain Feuillette raconte une histoire. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
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
MARISSA VIGEVANI: A local meteorologist invites little ones to celebrate Cloud Appreciation Day with a reading of Tim Hopgood’s Cyril, the Lonely Cloud followed by a fascinating chat and themed craft. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 496-7280.
TUNBRIDGE WORLD’S FAIR: See THU.11, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
upper valley
SENSORY STORY HOUR: APPLES: See WED.10.
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.
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.
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
narratives. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.
‘PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS: YOUR LOVED ONES, YOUR ANIMALS, YOUR WISHES’: North Country Animal League hosts an informative panel discussion covering topics such as creating or updating your will, tax-smart giving strategies, and including pets and charities in your plans. 4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 888-5065.
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.
chittenden county
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.
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.
TUNBRIDGE WORLD’S FAIR: See THU.11, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.
chittenden county
TROUBLE IN LAS VEGAS: A LOCKED ROOM MYSTERY FOR TEENS: Sly sleuths ages 13 to 18 work out clues and solve puzzles at this heist-themed escape room. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
mad river valley/ waterbury
TODDLER TIME: Little ones ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
upper valley
STORY TIME WITH BETH: A bookseller and librarian extraordinaire reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.
words
BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES: Concerned community members share thoughtful dialogue about homelessness — and society’s response to it — at this fourpart analysis of Kevin Adler and David Burnes’ When We Walk By. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov. ➆
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.
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
CRAFTYTOWN: Kiddos express their inner artist using mediums such as paint, print, collage and sculpture. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
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.12, 2-6 p.m.
northeast kingdom
LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.12.
‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.
chittenden county
BABY TIME: See WED.10.
CONNECT & PLAY: See WED.10. GAME ON!: See WED.10. 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. READ TO A DOG: Kids of all ages get a 10-minute time slot to tell stories to Emma the therapy pup. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sbplkids@southburlingtonvt.gov.
BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.10.
FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.10. K
At NDI, we develop optical measurement and electromagnetic tracking solutions for medical instruments. For eight consecutive years, we’ve proudly exhibited at the Vermont Tech Jam, an event that continues to be invaluable for both talent acquisition and industry exposure. At the 2024 Tech Jam, we connected with a promising candidate who is now a successful hire — further proof of the event’s impact. We also appreciate the opportunity to engage with the technical community and find inspiration among the many innovative companies showcasing their products. Vermont is an incredible place to live and work, and Tech Jam fosters a deep sense of pride in both the state and its thriving business community.
Ania Januszczyk HR Business Partner
(Northern Digital Inc.)
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.
WOODWORKING CLASSES: Learn from a professional furniture maker with 39 years in the business. Classes include Kitchen Chair: Build a Windsor Side Chair; Shaker Bench: Cutting Dovetails by Hand; Step Stool: Intro to Simple Pine and Cut Nail Projects; and High Work Stool: Intro to Chair Making in Cherry and Ash. Starting in Sep./ Oct., generally 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: Most classes are around $200250 per day. Location: Workshop of Timothy Clark, cabinetmaker/ chairwright, 2111 Green St., Waltham (near Vergennes). Info: 802-989-3204, tim@ timothyclark.com, timothy clark.com/classeshome. html.
MOUNTAINS AND TREES CAKE
DECORATING CLASS: Learn to frost a cake to look like a scene of Vermont’s Green Mountains! You’ll learn how to do a rustic smooth coat of buttercream and our signature mountain and tree details on a two-layer 6-inch cake. Date: Tue., Sep. 16, 6 p.m. Cost: $85. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: Red Poppy Cakery, 203-4000700, sevendaystickets.com.
Just come ready to reflect, create and connect with what you truly desire. All supplies included. Ages 13-plus. Sun. Sep. 28, 1-5 p.m. Cost: $70. Location: 11 Pearl St., Ste. 206, Essex Junction. Info: Ladies Social Group, 802-316-8885, celeste@ divinefeminineleaders.com, sevendaystickets.com.
FRENCH CLASSES CHEZ
WINGSPAN : Parlez-vous français?! Join our small group classes live or Zoom in to jumpstart French learning this fall! Options from beginner to conversational/advanced intermediate. Privates available aussi! Fall schedule coming bientôt! Classes start in late Sep. Location: Wingspan Studio & School, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: Maggie Standley, 802-233-7676, maggiestandley@gmail. com, wingspanstudioeduc. com.
REIKI TRAINING: Ongoing Reiki training and attunements for First Degree, Second Degree and Reiki Master. Taught by
Shamanic Reiki Master of 33 years Maureen Short. By request, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $175, $250 & $325. Location: Lightheart Sanctuary, 236 Wild Apple Rd., New Haven, VT. Info: 802-7715417, maureenseventeen@gmail. com, lightheart.net. FALL INTO FOCUS: VISION BOARD WORKSHOP: Slow down. Reflect. Realign. As the seasons shift, it’s the perfect time to pause and get intentional about what’s next. In this cozy, creative workshop, you’ll craft a vision board — a powerful tool that helps you clarify your goals, stay focused and bring your dreams to life. No experience needed.
NEW TAI CHI BEGINNERS CLASS IN BURLINGTON Long River Tai Chi Circle is the school of Wolfe Lowenthal, student of professor Cheng Man Ching and author of three classic works on Tai Chi Chaun. Patrick Cavanaugh is a longtime student and assistant of Wolfe’s and a senior instructor at Long River Tai Chi Circle in Vermont and New Hampshire and will be teaching the class in Burlington. Starts Oct. 1, ongoing on Wed. mornings, 9-10 a.m. Registration will remain open until Oct. 29. Cost: $65/mo. Location: In the gym at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church, 305 Flynn Ave, Burlington. Info: Patrick Cavanaugh, 802-4906405, patricklrtcc@gmail.com, longrivertaichinewengland.com.
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.
RECLAIMING TRADITIONS: GREEN BURIAL, HOME FUNERALS AND SHROUDING
Join end-of-life doula Lindsey Warren to explore at-home death care as an active form of grief processing. Begin to develop your own green burial and endof-life care plans based on your values and priorities. Gain information to make fully informed decisions or to help your doula clients through the process. Also, practice hands-on shrouding skills in this workshop intensive. Sat., Sep. 20, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Cost: $60. Preregistration req. Needbased discount avail. Location: First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 152 Pearl St., Burlington. Info: Lindsey Warren, 802-498-5700, lindseywarrendoula@gmail.com, journeywithcompassion.com/ workshops.
FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS
WORKSHOP: Family constellations make the elements of a question, problem or system 3D through embodied human representation. Movement out of stagnation occurs when we collectively acknowledge, grieve and are awe-struck by what is. Date: Sun., Mar. 21, 2-6 p.m. Exchange: $55. Location: Burlington Friends Meeting House, 173 N. Prospect St. Info: Mattie Clark, mattieclark. com.
THE ONE-NIGHT STAND: BIKE
CARE BASICS: Having a basic understanding of your bike and knowing how to care for it
is empowering! e One-Night Stand at Old Spokes Home will cause neither regret nor shame; instead, it will help you stay safer, keep your bike running longer, and give you confidence in either getting what you need at the bike shop or figuring out how to deal with it on your own. is class is reserved for folks who hold women/trans/nonbinary identities. Wed., Sep. 17, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $50. Location: Old Spokes Home Community Workshop, 664 Riverside Dr., Burlington. Info: 802-863-4475, sevendaystickets. com.
Buy & Sell »
ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES
Community » ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS
Rentals & Real Estate »
APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER
Vehicles »
CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS
Services »
FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN
Musicians & Artists »
LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE
Jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY
AGE/SEX: 2-year-old spayed female
ARRIVAL DATE: August 26, 2025
SUMMARY: Xena is a stunning Akita with a heart as big as her beautiful fluffy coat! She’s waiting patiently for a fresh start with someone who understands her need to be the only animal in the household. Friendly and full of love, Xena has a gentle spirit and a playful side that shines once she feels safe. She can be a little reserved when first meeting new people, but it doesn’t take long for her to warm up. She’s an active girl who thrives on companionship and adventure — she lives for car rides, fetch and long walks and especially adores swimming! With a little patience and a lot of love, Xena will be your fiercely loyal, endlessly loving best friend.
DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Xena is seeking a home where she can be the only pet. She has lived with children and enjoyed their company.
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.
Dogs are creatures of habit and feel most comfortable when their schedule is predictable. You don’t need to change your schedule to fit their needs, but try to keep mealtime, exercise and bedtime as consistent as possible.
Sponsored by:
Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 115 classifieds@sevendaysvt.com
Info, estatesalesand consignments.com
NASCAR AUCTION
1-855-402-7208. (AAN CAN)
Public NASCAR auction. Fri., Sep. 12, noon-8 p.m. Noon preview, 3 p.m. start. 12 Prince St., Randolph. Rain or shine. Details at rumorhasitvt. com.
2 ESTATE SALES:
ESSEX/S. BURLINGTON Essex online estate sale, Aug. 26-Sep. 17: upright freezer, space heater, moving dollies, walnut buffet sideboard, Gorilla garden cart, Asian hand-painted screen, Korean cabinet, household furniture, Gskyer telescope, offi ce furniture. S. Burlington online estate sale, Aug. 28-Sep. 24: reverse-print Seth omas clock, A/C units, Cassell’s canary art, leaded glass frog lamp, Ethan Allen furniture, Mexican pottery, lift recliner, kitchen items, etchings & engravings, & more.
TREES/SHRUBS FOR SCREENING & LANDSCAPING Arborvitae, evergreen, hardwood, apple, fruit. Field grown/ container grown, state inspected, 1-year warranty. Eden, Vt. $20. Info, 802-309-4063, arborhilltreefarm@ outlook.com.
TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS
Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico & Stromberg guitars + Gibson mandolins & banjos. ese brands only! Call for a quote:
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
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
style. Paul Asbell (Big Joe Burrell, Kilimanjaro, UVM & Middlebury College faculty, Seven Daysies winner). Info, 802-233-7731, pasbell@ paulasbell.com.
Communit y ommuni
OPERA LOVERS COMMUNITY
Chat about favorite singers, recordings, opera houses, etc. If you sing, that’s a plus! Call 802-497-0912.
FEMALE 1ST
RESPONDER SEEKING UNIQUE HOUSING
S. HERO 2-BR/1.5-BA LAKEFRONT HOME FOR RENT
PIANO, VOICE, TROMBONE, SONGWRITING LESSONS
3 Mott Ln. Furnished, 2-BR, 1.5-BA, 1,508 sq.ft. Cozy home in S. Hero, huge front & backyard, private drive, back porch. Queen bed in 1 BR, double bed in 2nd BR. $2,200. Contact 850-544-5369.
BURLINGTON HILL SECTION, SINGLE ROOM FOR RENT
Piano, trombone, voice & songwriting lessons w/ Scott omas Carter, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Who’s Who in America. 50 years’ teaching experience. Info, 802-651-1013, shinypennypro@gmail. com.
GUITAR INSTRUCTION
All styles/levels. Emphasis on building strong technique, thorough musicianship, developing personal
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.
Asking for help from my community, as I save to buy a property of my own! My name is Meg. I work as a mental health outreach worker w/ local police. I am a volunteer EMT w/ a local backcountry rescue team. My dog is a 9-year-old schnauzerLab mix. In his youth, he was a certifi ed therapy dog. He is friendly. I am looking for a cohabitation situation (all-season camp, cabin, in-law suite, duplex, long-term housingsitting). My ideal living situation would be a rural, private living space, dog-friendly. I am conditioned to living in remote locations w/ limited amenities. My vehicle is AWD. I am looking to move before Oct. 1, 2025. I hope to live in/near Chittenden County. I would like to barter my services in exchange for cheaper rent. I have 5+ years’ experience in childcare, elderly support & dog sitting. I am experienced in property management & lawn care. I am respectful, reliable & medically trained, so I am a good safeguard to have on property. ank you for any leads! Email meg. johnson837@gmail. com.
GET DISABILITY BENEFITS
You may qualify for disability benefi ts if you are between 52 & 63 years old & under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now: 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)
STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE
A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)
FALL FOREST BATHING
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
WATERBURY CENTER REFRIGERATED WAREHOUSE SPACE 3,000-sq.ft. space avail. Contains 2 large (approximately 750 sq.ft. each) refrigerated coolers. Remaining space is dry storage & loading docks. Private BA. Excellent, convenient location on Rte. 100 between Stowe & Waterbury, privately located behind another business. 3 bays for deliveries. Gravel driveway & lot. Shared trash/recycling. Separately metered electric, propane heating system. Unique property w/ large refrigerated storage (no freezer) & truck bays large enough to accommodate 18-wheelers if needed for delivery/ distribution of goods. Option to subdivide into smaller units. $13/sq.ft. NNN. Email 802emvet@ gmail.com for info.
TV & INTERNET
If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote & see how much you can save: 1-844-588-6579. (AAN CAN)
GET TAX RELIEF
Do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS or state in back taxes? Get tax relief now! We’ll fi ght for you! Call 1-877-703-6117. (AAN CAN)
Join us for our Forest Bathing series. Guided sessions invite you to breathe deeply, notice the changing season & fi nd renewal in the peaceful presence of the forest. Fri. in Sep., 9-10:30 a.m., + Forest Bathing Group Experience on Sep. 28, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 802-858-5576, journeytogethervt. com.
ACUWELL
BURLINGTON
Acupuncture, bodywork & facial rejuvenation for balanced wellness & preventative care. Back-to-school special: 20% off all services. Insurance accepted. Located at 28 Howard St., Suite 210, Burlington. VT. Book online: acuwellburlington. com. Info, 802-777-7817, acuwellburlington@ gmail.com.
Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, ll the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.
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.
Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.
Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test. NEW ON FRIDAYS:
JOSH REYNOLDS
DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH
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.
2 1 6 4 3 5 5 2 3 6 4 1 4 6 1 2 5 3 1 3 2 5 6 4 3 5 4 1 2 6
DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.
ANSWERS ON P.86 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!
ON P. 86 »
See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.
your home, commercial & auto locksmith needs: 1-833-237-1233. (AAN CAN)
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE?
PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT:
OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.
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.
BEAUTIFUL BATH
UPDATES
Beautiful bath updates in as little as 1 day!
Superior quality bath & shower systems at affordable prices. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call now: 1-833-4232558. (AAN CAN)
PEST CONTROL
Protect your home from pests safely & affordably. Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders & other pests. Locally owned & affordable. Call for a quote, service or an inspection today: 1-833-237-1199. (AAN CAN)
24-7 LOCKSMITH
We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & running quickly! Also, key reproductions, lock installs & repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for
You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind its work. Fast, free estimate. Financing avail. Call 1-888-292-8225. (AAN CAN)
NEED NEW WINDOWS?
Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energy-effi cient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today: 1-877-2489944. (AAN CAN)
NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 AT 9:00 AM
Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on September 18, 2025 at 9am EST at 615 Route 7, Danby VT 05739 (D53), 3466 Richville Rd, Manchester Center, VT 05255 (24), 1124 Charlestown Road, Springfi eld, VT 05156 (Units S23, S26, S79, S99, S122), 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 D53
Amy Clayton Household Goods
2 24 Sandra Nystrom Household Goods
3 S23 Amanda Duffy Household Goods
4 S26 Nicolas Givent Household Goods
issued unless, on or before September 25, 2025, a party notifi es 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 defi ned 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, fi ll out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Offi ce at: Act250.Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.
fi rst 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: 9-2-2025
Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Michael T. Fox
Executor/Administrator: Michael T. Fox c/o Adam Bartsch PO Box 928, Shelburne, VT 05482 Phone Number: 802-985-8811
Email: abartsch@neetlaw.com
Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 9-10-2025
5 S79 Deborah Jackson Household Goods
6 S99 James Flack Household Goods
7 S122 Kimberly Quimby Household Goods
ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C1145-6
10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111
GOT AN UNWANTED CAR?
Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast, free pickup in all 50 states. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans fi nd work or start their own business. Call 24-7: 1-855-402-7631. (AAN CAN)
Application 4C1145-6 from Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Inc. (VYCC), 1949 East Main Street, Richmond, VT 05477 was received on August 19, 2025 and deemed complete on August 29, 2025. e project is generally described as the construction of several new buildings including the hillside dorm, outdoor kitchen, a compost shed and six (6) cabins. e project includes the programmatic fi t up of the East Monitor Barn, renovation of the farmhouse and horse barn, and construction of the utilities (septic, water, electrical) to serve these new buildings and uses. e project is located at the VYCC campus at 1949 East Main Street in Richmond, Vermont. e 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 “4C1145-6.”
No hearing will be held and a permit may be
For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.
Dated this September 2, 2025. By: /s/Stephanie H. Monaghan
Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov
STATE OF VERMONT
SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 25-PR-04809
In re ESTATE of: ISABEL W. FOX
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
To the creditors of: Isabel W. Fox, late of Shelburne, 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
Name of Probate Court: VT Superior Court, Chittenden Unit - Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401
STATE OF VERMONT
SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION LAMOILLE UNIT CASE NO. 25-SC-0047
CASE NAME: LWI Metalworks, LLC v. Michael Steeves, et al.
SUMMONS AND ORDER FOR PUBLICATION TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT: MICHAEL STEEVES
You are summoned and required to serve upon Timothy W. Sargent, plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is P.O. Box 696, Morrisville, Vermont 05661, an answer to plaintiff’s complaint in the above-entitled action within forty-two (42) days after the date of the fi rst publication of the summons, which is September 10, 2025.
If you fail to do so, judgment by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. Your answer must also be fi led with the Court. Unless the relief demanded in the complaint is for damages covered by a liability insurance policy under which the insurer has the right or obligation to conduct the defense, or unless otherwise prescribed in Rule 13(a) of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure, your answer must state as a counterclaim any related claim which you may have against plaintiff, or you will thereafter be barred from making such claim in any other action.
Plaintiff’s action is a lawsuit for collection based upon non-payment of metal design work commissioned on Michael Steeves’ behalf with LWI Metalworks, LLC. A copy of the complaint is on fi le and may be obtained at the Offi ce of the Clerk of this Court, Vermont Superior Court, Lamoille Unit Civil Division, P.O. Box 570, Hyde Park, VT 05655, Case No. 25-SC-0047.
It appears from the affi davits duly fi led in the above-entitled action that service cannot be made with due diligence by any of the methods prescribed in Rule 4(d) through (f), inclusive, of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure. It is ordered that service of the above process shall be made upon defendant Michael Steeves by publication pursuant to Rule 4(g) of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure.
is order shall be published once a week for two successive weeks, on September 10, 2025 and September 17, 2025, in Seven Days, newspaper of general circulation in all of Vermont.
Service shall also be made by regular mail to the last known address of Michael Steeves at P.O. Box 201, Troy, VT 05868.
Dated at Hyde Park, Vermont, this 29th day of August, 2025.
Hon. Benjamin D. Batiles, Presiding Judge
WARNING POLICY ADOPTION
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The 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 September 16, 2025:
D3-Staffing and Job Descriptions - Repeal
D4-Personnel Files - Repeal
D8-Resignations - Repeal
D11-Job Sharing - Instructional Positions - Repeal
D12-FMLA - Repeal
D15-Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Compliance - Repeal
D2-Professional Development - Adopt
D5-Substitute Teachers - Adopt
D7-Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace - Adopt
D10-Mandatory Drug & Alcohol Testing Transportation Employees - Adopt
D6-Volunteers - Reaffirm
D9-Public Complaints about Personnel - Reaffirm
D13-Employee Unlawful Harassment - Reaffirm
D14-Subpoenas - Reaffirm
D16-Employee Conflict of Interest - Reaffirm
D17-Electronic Communications between Employees and Students - Reaffirm
Copies of the above policies may be obtained for public review at the Office of the Human Resources Dept. in Shelburne, VT.
PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
The Vermont General Assembly is proposing voters amend the Constitution of the State of Vermont. Proposal 3 has passed two successive legislative sessions and will appear on the November 2026 ballot for voter approval. Proposal 4 is pending legislative approval in the second year of the biennium. If approved, Proposal 4 will also appear on the November 2026 ballot.
See proposals below:
Proposal 3: This proposal would amend the Constitution of the State of Vermont to provide that the citizens of the State have a right to collectively bargain.
Article 2* of Chapter I of the Vermont Constitution is added to read:
Article 2*. [Right to collectively bargain]
That employees have a right to organize or join a labor organization for the purpose of collectively bargaining with their employer through an exclusive representative of their choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions and to protect their economic welfare and safety in the workplace. Therefore, no law shall be adopted that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to collectively bargain with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, or that prohibits the application or execution of an agreement between an employer and a labor organization representing the employer’s employees that requires membership in the labor organization as a condition of employment.
Proposal 4: This proposal would amend the Constitution of the State of Vermont to specify that the government must not deny equal treatment and respect under the law on account of a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin.
Article 2* of Chapter I of the Vermont Constitution is added to read:
Article 2*. [Equality of rights]
That the people are guaranteed equal protection under the law. The State shall not deny equal treatment under the law on account of a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin. Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted or applied to prevent the adoption or implementation of measures intended to provide equality of treatment and opportunity for members of groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.
PUBLIC HEARING WINOOSKI
Monday, September 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM Winooski City Hall 27 W. Allen Street, Winooski, VT 05404
A CIRCLE OF PARENTS SUPPORT GROUPS
Please join our professionally facilitated peer-led support groups designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.
AL-ANON
For families & friends of alcoholics. Phone meetings, electronic meetings (Zoom) & an Al-Anon blog are avail. online at the Al-Anon website. For meeting info, go to vermontalanonalateen.org or call 866-972-5266.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Call the Vermont statewide anonymous hotline: 802-802-2288. Alcoholics Anonymous holds daily meetings all over Vermont, both in person & online. See burlingtonaa.org for meetings, news & events in Chittenden & Grand Isle counties. For meeting & events throughout Vermont, see aavt.org.
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT GROUPS
Support groups meet to provide assistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm the date & time. The Williston caregiver support group meets in person on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Old Brick Church in Williston. Contact support group facilitators Molly at dugan@cathedralsquare.org or Mindy at moondog@burlingtontelecom.net. The Middlebury support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 4th Tue. of each mo., 3 p.m., at the Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Rd., Middlebury. Contact is Daniel Hamilton, dhamilton@residenceottercreek.com or 802-989-0097. The Shelburne support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne. Contact is support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@residenceshelburnebay. com. The telephone support group meets on the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is required (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, for more info. For
• Attend in person: Winooski City Hall (27 W Allen St)
• Attend online: https://us06web.zoom. us/j/84364849328
• Attend by phone: 1 646 558 8656
• Webinar ID: 843 6484 9328
The Winooski City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, September 15, 2025 in the Claire Burke Council Chambers to consider the adoption of the Municipal Code Chapter 15, Section 15.03.01 Fines. Fees pursuant to Section 19-401 of the Charter of the City of Winooski, this Chapter of Ordinance shall be adopted to:
• Reduce the unpaid meter fine from $30 to $25
• Increase the overtime fine for 15- minute spots to match theunpaid meter fine amount of $25
Jenny Willingham, Winooski City Clerk
AUCTION – MOBILE HOME
Sale Date and Location: Wednesday, 9/17/2025 at 1:00 p.m. – Derby Mobile Home Park, Lot #D-15, 2477 US Route 5 in Derby, Vermont.
For more info. call (802) 860-9536.
1983 Skyline, JAY7302F mobile home, 14’ x 56’, Min. bid $9,819.98
Must be moved 5 days after sale.
Auctioneer: Uriah Wallace – Lic. #057-0002460
PUBLIC HEARING WINOOSKI
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 AT 6:00 PM
Winooski City Hall
27 W. Allen Street, Winooski, VT 05404
• Attend in person: Winooski City Hall (27 W Allen St)
• Attend online: https://us06web.zoom. us/j/84364849328
• Attend by phone: 1 646 558 8656
• Webinar ID: 843 6484 9328
The Winooski City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, September 15, 2025 in the Claire Burke Council Chambers to consider the adoption of the Municipal Code Chapter 15, Section 15.03.01 Fines. Fees pursuant to Section 19-401 of the Charter of the City of Winooski, this Chapter of Ordinance shall be adopted to:
CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP
questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.
ANXIETY RELIEF GROUP
Anxiety Relief Group is a safe setting for relaxing & exploring your feelings w/ others through gentle socialization & self-expression, building up what makes you centered & strong. Wed., 4-5:30 p.m. Both in-person & Zoom options avail. In-person meetings are held at the Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room in Burlington. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont. org.
BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP
Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.
BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM
Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@ dragonheartvermont.org for info.
• Reduce the unpaid meter fine from $30 to $25
• Increase the overtime fine for 15- minute spots to match the unpaid meter fine amount of $25
Jenny Willingham, Winooski City Clerk
STORAGE UNIT SALE
Notice is hereby given that the contents of the following will be sold to the public by sealed bid. The sale is being held to collect unpaid fees, late charges and expenses of the sale.
Unit 17 Randy Wade
Storage Unit Sale will take place on October 1, 2025 at 10 AM at Ferrisburgh Self Storage located at 7175 Route 7 Ferrisburgh, Vermont, 05473
STORAGE UNIT SALE
Notice is hereby given that the contents of the following will be sold to the public by sealed bid. The sale is being held to collect unpaid fees, late charges and expenses of the sale.
Unit 77 Loriann Urban
Storage Unit Sale will take place on October 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Ferrisburgh Self Storage located at 7175 Route 7 Ferrisburgh, Vermont, 05473
STORAGE UNIT SALE
Notice is hereby given that the contents of the following will be sold to the public by sealed bid. The sale is being held to collect unpaid fees, late charges and expenses of the sale.
Unit 11 Robert Emery
Storage Unit Sale will take place on October 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Richmond Self Storage located at 3170 East Main Street, Richmond, Vermont, 05477.
BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m., in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils 802-877-3742.
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE
Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free & open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff w/ lived experience of suicidality. Thu., 4-5 p.m., at Vermont Wellness Collaborative (125 College St., 3rd Floor). Email us for more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.
DISABILITY SUPPORT GROUP
Our group is a space for mutual support, open to anybody who identifies as disabled, differently abled or having a disability. Whether your disability is visible, invisible, physical or cognitive, this group is for you! The group meets every Mon., 1:15-2:15 p.m., at Fletcher Free Library’s Pickering Room & online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.
FCA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Families Coping with Addiction (FCA) is an open community peer support group for adults (18+) struggling with the drug or alcohol addiction of a loved one. FCA is not 12-step-based but provides a forum for those living the family experience, in
which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength from one another. Our group meets every Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., live in person in the conference room at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County (179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington), &/or via our parallel Zoom session to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom link can be found on the Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt.org) using the “Family Support” tab (click on “What We Offer”). Any questions, please send by email to tdauben@aol.com.
FIERCELY FLAT VT
A breast cancer support group for those who’ve had mastectomies. We are a casual online meeting group found on Facebook at Fiercely Flat VT. Info: stacy.m.burnett@gmail.com.
FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)
Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held on Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., via Zoom. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts. org.
FRESH START: A TOBACCO/VAPE QUIT WORKSHOP
Join a free 4- or 5-week group workshop facilitated by our coaches, who are certified in tobacco treatment. We meet in a friendly, relaxed & virtual atmosphere. You may qualify for a free limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Info: call 802-847-7333 or email quittobaccoclass@uvmhealth.org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops.
GRIEVING A LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
A retired psychotherapist & an experienced life coach host a free meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets upstairs at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. There is no fee for attending but donations are gladly accepted. Meetings are held on the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo., 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending please register at allsoulsinterfaith. org. (More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.)
HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP
This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2:30-4 p.m. Vermont Wellness Collaborative (125 College St., 3rd Floor). Email us for more information: pvcc@pathwaysvermont. org.
INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS/PAINFUL BLADDER SUPPORT GROUP
Interstitial cystitis (IC) & painful bladder syndrome can result in recurring pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort in the bladder/pelvic region & urinary frequency/urgency. These are often misdiagnosed & mistreated as a chronic bladder infection. If you have been diagnosed or have these symptoms, you are not alone. For Vermontbased support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail. com or call 802-735-5735 for more info.
KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS
The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety
of cancers. For further info, please contact info@ vcsn.net.
LIVING THROUGH LOSS
The Volunteer Chaplaincy Program of Gifford Medical Center sponsors a weekly meeting of its “Living Through Loss” grief support group. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the past year or so is warmly invited to attend the free weekly meetings every Fri., 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. For information, contact the Rev. Tim Eberhardt, Gifford’s Spiritual Care Coordinator at 802-728-2107.
MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS
Are you questioning the role marijuana plays in your life? Check out Freed From Weed, a free Marijuana Anonymous 12-step group. Mon., 7 p.m., at First United Methodist Church (Red Door Church), 21 Buell St., Burlington. Contact: jointsession@newenglandma.org.
MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP
Area myeloma survivors, families & caregivers have come together to form a Multiple Myeloma Support Group. We provide emotional support, resources about treatment options, coping strategies & a support network by participating in the group experience w/ people who have been through similar situations. 3rd Tue. of every mo., 5-6 p.m., on Zoom. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@aol.com.
NAMI SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Vermont offers several Connection Peer Support Groups & Family Support Groups that meet virtually &/or in person throughout the state. All groups are confidential, volunteer-led & 100% free. Find a group that suits your needs at namivt.org/ support-groups.
NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP
Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Narcotics Anonymous is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, St Albans, Morrisville, Barre & Stowe. Info, 833-436-6166 or cvana.org.
NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS & EVERY
PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY
Drop-in play every day: The Children’s Room is open Mon.-Fri. for anyone w/children ages 0-6 to come & play. Starting Tue., Sep. 3! Check the TCR calendar for hours & school closure days. Caregiver & Baby Circle: Weekly drop-in on Mon., 11 a.m., at the Children’s Room. We are pleased to offer a weekly gathering for babies (0-18 mos.) & their caregivers, sponsored by Good Beginnings & hosted by the Children’s Room. Nature Explorations: Tue,, 10-11:30 a.m., at various trailheads in the area. Get outside for some fresh air & fun! Every week we go to a different trailhead or natural area to explore. Ages 0-6; carriers are helpful for little ones. Email childrensroom@ huusd.org to sign up; enrollment is always open. Music & Movement: drop-in, Wed., 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We begin by singing songs & moving together & allow time at the end to play w/ instruments, as well as time for adults & kids to socialize. Ages 0-6. Exploration & Art Fridays: drop-in, Fri., anytime from 9 a.m.-noon at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We’ll be engaging in different hands-on explorations & using various mediums every week — sometimes combined. Come to TCR to explore, play & create! For info, email childrensroom@huusd.org.
CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)
A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulimics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont.org/meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more, or call 802-863-2655 anytime!
PARKINSON’S MUTUAL AID GROUP
For individuals & caregivers dealing w/ the challenges of Parkinson’s, we meet to share resources & practical ideas for improving quality of life. This in-person group is free & open to the public. Every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Old Meeting House, 1620 Center Rd., East Montpelier. Please contact admin@oldmeetinghouse.org or 229-9593.
PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group meets online on the 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Whether you are newly diagnosed, dealing w/ a reoccurrence or trying to manage the side effects of treatment, you are welcome here! More info: Andy Hatch, group leader, ahatch63@gmail.com.
RECOVERY DHARMA
Recovery Dharma uses Buddhist practices & principles to help people recover from all kinds of addictions & addictive behaviors. This peer led, non-theistic group offers opportunities to deepen understanding, explore personal inquiry & connect w/ others. We meet every Wed. from 6-7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Burlington (the Red Door Church, 21 Buell Street). Enter through the administrative office door (at far left when viewed from Buell St.) We also meet on Thu., 1-2 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. No meditation experience required; all are welcome. Email rd.burlington.vt@gmail.com for more information.
SMART RECOVERY
We welcome anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. SMART Recovery is an abstinenceoriented program based on the science of addiction treatment & recovery. Online: Sun., 5 p.m. Info: meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/1868. Face-to-face: Thu., 1:15 p.m., & Fri., 5:30 p.m., at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County. Family & Friends online, Mon., 7 p.m. Info: meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/6337. Volunteer facilitator, Bert: 399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.
SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.
SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT
HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@ sover.net. Visit hopeworksvt.com for more information.
STEPS SUPPORT GROUP
Steps offers a weekly support group w/ drop-in options for those who have experienced or who have been affected by domestic violence. Women’s Support Group meets virtually every Tue., 5-6:30 p.m. Gender Inclusive Support Group meets
virtually every Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Both groups offer a safe, supportive & confidential place to connect w/ others, heal & recover. For more info, call us at 658-1996 or email steps@stepsvt.org.
STUTTERING SUPPORT GROUPS
We offer 3 monthly National Stuttering Association (NSA) stuttering support groups for adults, teens & school-age children (7-12). Meetings take place monthly at UVM & by Zoom. Contact burlingtonstutters@gmail.com for more information.
SUICIDE HOTLINES IN VT
Brattleboro, 257-7989; Montpelier (Washington County Mental Health Emergency Services), 2290591; Randolph (Clara Martin Center Emergency Service), 800-639-6360.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR WOMEN Group for women who have experienced intimate partner abuse. Facilitated by Circle (Washington Co. only). Please call 877-543-9498 for more info.
SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE: SOUTH BURLINGTON
This group is for people experiencing the impact of the loss of a loved one to suicide. 1st Wed. of each mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at the Comfort Inn & Suites, 3 Dorset St., S. Burlington. Info: Bob Purvee at 922-4283 or ripurvee1@yahoo.com, or Aya Kuki at 881-3606 or ayakokuki@gmail.com.
THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP
The Compassionate Friends international support group for parents, siblings & families grieving the loss of a child meets every 4th Tue. of the mo., 7-8:30 p.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd, S. Burlington. Call/email Alan at 802-233-0544, alanday88@gmail.com, or Claire at 802-448-3569.
TRANS & GENDER-NONCONFORMING SUPPORT GROUP
As trans & GNC people in the world, we experience many things that are unique to our identities. For that reason, the Transgender Program hosts a support group for our community on the 1st & 3rd Wed. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., virtually, & on the 2nd & 4th Wed. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., at Pride Center of Vermont. The Trans & GNC support group is for Vermonters at all stages of their gender journey to come together to socialize, discuss issues that are coming up in their lives & build community. We welcome anyone whose identity falls under the trans, GNC, intersex & nonbinary umbrellas & folks questioning their gender identity. Email safespace@pridecentervt. org w/ any questions, comments or accessibility concerns.
TRANS PARENT GROUP
This support group is for adult family members & caregivers of queer &/or questioning youth. It is held on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., online, & on the 3rd Mon. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at Outright Vermont, 241 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. This group is for adults only. For more info, email info@outrightvt.org.
TRANSGUARDIANS SUPPORT GROUP
We will be in community w/ parents of trans kids of all ages & supporting each other w/ storytelling, listening, learning & love. If we want to protect our trans kids, our 1st line of defense is uplifting their parents & guardians! This is a peer-support group & will be facilitated by Alison & Shawna. 4th Tue. of every mo., 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Rainbow Bridge Community Center. Contact 622-0692 or info@ rainbowbridgevt.org. or go to rainbowbridgevt. org.
TRAUMA SUPPORT GROUP
Our group is a space for mutual support for everyone who is living w/ mental/emotional trauma. The group meets every Fri., 2:15-3:15 p.m., at The Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room & online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.
For position details and application process, visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu and select “View Current Openings”
SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.
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
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 off, 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.
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.
They are responsible for field-based, direct provision Person-Centered Options Counseling to clients in our 54-town service area.
Pay Range: $24-$26 per hour.
For the full job description and to apply, please visit: https://cvcoa.org/employment.
Burlington Electric Department, the City of Burlington’s 100% renewably powered electric utility, is seeking two (2) Resource Planners (level I, II, or III) to join its Policy and Planning Team, which is responsible for rate design, distributed energy resource management, wholesale markets, renewability, and regulatory & legislative matters. This position focuses on the design of innovative electric rates to support BED’s Net Zero Energy vision, including the use of state-of-the-art technology to manage loads and distributed resources. One of these positions will be involved in implementing a prestigious Grid Resiliency & Innovation Partnerships grant from the U.S. Department of Energy related to controlling thermal energy loads in residential and commercial buildings.
Our ideal candidates will have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, economics, math, or related field, with 3 years of experience in utility resource planning required for level II and 5 years of experience in an equivalent position at an electric utility plus at least 2 college- or graduate-level courses beyond the bachelor’s degree required for level III. Candidates interested in multiple levels of the position must apply for each level separately. This position has potential for some remote work flexibility.
The City of Burlington is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage applicants who like to think innovatively toward climate goals and who can contribute to our growing diversity.
At Bin There Dump That Burlington, VT, we believe renting a dumpster should ALWAYS be a simple and friendly experience! As a Delivery Expert, you are the face of the business when each dumpster is delivered to our residential and commercial customers. As such, the role of a Dumpster Expert is to pick up and deliver 6 yard to 20 yard roll off dumpsters for residential and commercial projects. Utilize company mobile application for processing pickups and deliveries. Complete daily truck inspection reports. Daily driving throughout the Chittenden, Lamoille, Addison, Franklin, and Washington counties for delivered and transfer station dumps. Starting pay range is $25-35/hour paid bi-weekly.
Licensing/Certification: Valid Non-CDL Driver’s License. DOT medical card.
Up to $5,000 Sign-On Bonus Available
Through October 1st. Wages ranging from $22-$35/hour, depending on work experience.
Jay Peak Resort is looking for a full-time Lift Mechanic to join the team. Responsibilities include lift equipment maintenance (winter and summer), and performing daily checks through the winter season to ensure that equipment runs e ciently and safely.
Uniform: Dark pants, steel-toed safety boots. Company vest, jacket, and shirts provided.
Vehicle: Company truck (Ford F-600 Super Duty) provided for pickups and deliveries.
Please send resume to ryan.m@bintheredumpthat.com with 'I am Interested in the “Dumpster Delivery Expert” position' in the subject line. Please provide cover letter and resume.
Red House Building in Vermont is seeking experienced carpenters to join our team. These are full-time positions with flexible scheduling, benefits, and hourly pay based on skill level. Ideal candidates are motivated, dependable, and detail-oriented with previous experience in construction.
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
Our projects span Central and Northern Vermont. If you are a reliable craftsperson interested in joining a unique, custom-home building team, please submit your resume to chris@redhousebuilding.com
To apply, please visit our careers page at: jaypeakresort.applytojob.com/apply
Red House Building is expanding our Home Services team with a full-time, skilled carpenter/handy-person. Applicants must have at least 3 years of full-time carpentry experience and a broad understanding of home building/renovation, basic mechanical systems knowledge, and experience in drywall repair and painting. Responsibilities include executing small building projects independently or with assistance, performing home maintenance and repair tasks, trouble-shooting home performance issues, and occasionally scheduling and over-seeing subcontractors. Our ideal candidate would have excellent communication skills, professionalism, attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a valid driver’s license. Proficiency with basic computer programs like Excel, OneNote, Google platforms is a plus. Hourly wage will depend upon skill level and experience. Generous benefits package offered. Please send resumes to rob@redhousebuilding.com
The Mitzvah Fund seeks a nimble and creative problem solver to fill the new role of Operations Director to manage the nonprofit’s daily work including the mobile veterinary hospital. This is a full-time position with benefits located in Central VT. $60,000 starting salary.
For more information: themitzvahfundvt. org/jobs
This is a key leadership role that manages the operational and strategic aspects of Copley’s medical practices over multiple locations:
• Manage complex patient interactions, drive development of processes and systems, and manage staff.
• Provide leadership for day-to-day operations.
• Exhibit strong managerial skills and an understanding of medical office procedures.
We are seeking a highly organized individual with previous leadership experience in a hospital or healthcare setting. Full-time. Excellent salary and benefits package.
For more information visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.
Keep our roads safe, clear, and moving! Love the outdoors? Big machines? Teamwork? The Town of Warren is looking for a Highway Maintenance Worker to join our crew. Compensation based on experience with a range of $26-$28.
You’ll:
• Operate plows, loaders & graders
• Maintain roads, signs & drainage
• Tackle Vermont weather like a pro
You Bring:
• Valid driver’s license (CDL a plus)
• Heavy equipment experience (or willing to learn)
• Positive, safety-first attitude
Why Join Us?
• Full-time + benefits
• Competitive pay
• Great crew & mountain views daily
Apply today: rcampbell@warrenvt.org
Questions? Call Andrew at 802-496-2945
The Department of Athletics at Saint Michael’s College invites applications for our Administrative Coordinator of Athletics. Saint Michael’s is an NCAA Division II institution sponsoring 21 varsity sports and is a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference. The successful applicant will manage all aspects of running the internal operations for our varsity athletic programs. Responsibilities include management and support of the following areas: budget; events and travel; data, reporting, and mailings; and general departmental administration. This is a full-time, 9-month position with benefits. The hourly rate for this position is $19-$22.40.
For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit https://bit.ly/SMCACA
Are you a skilled advocate, ready to advance the movement to end gender-based violence? The Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is seeking an Advocacy & Organizing Manager to support our systems change work. Our ideal candidate is a strategic organizer, project manager, and relationship-builder. At the State House or a farmer’s market – you’re ready to connect and mobilize support for state and federal policy initiatives. The Vermont Network is an amazing place to work. We prioritize the wellbeing of our staff, take our culture seriously, think big, and orient toward what is possible. Minimum of 2-3 years’ advocacy, campaigns, and/or organizing experience. For additional details, salary information, and the full job description, go to vtnetwork.org. Submit a cover letter and resume to jamie@vtnetwork. org by September 21st.
The Vermont Network is a purpose driven organization working to uproot the causes of violence to support all people to thrive and we welcome candidates who share this horizon. We prioritize the wellbeing of our staff, take our culture seriously, think big and orient towards what is possible. All positions are hybrid-Waterbury and Home Office.
We’re looking for a dedicated Marshmallow Production Lead with an eye for detail, flexible attitude, mastery of multi-tasking, love of execution, and excitement to join a small, tight-knit team of self-starters.
Take ownership of marshmallow production from start to finish & work in tandem with the Production Manager to make cookies, caramels, choco tacos, graham crackers, and more!
We’re all about building a small but mighty team that actually loves coming to work. We believe investing in our people is the best investment we can make. We offer: $20/hr, 6.5 weeks PTO, 3-day weekends, Tax-Free Healthcare Reimbursement, End of Year Bonus, Retirement Plan with Matching & More!
Full details: https://7dvt.pub/VTMarshmallow
4t-VTNetwork091025.indd 1 9/9/25 5:35 PM
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
The position is open until filled.
The Waterbury Recreation Department is seeking an enthusiastic, hardworking, innovative, and independent Assistant Recreation Director. The Assistant Recreation Director will plan, staff, and oversee a variety of recreation programs and events, both supporting existing initiatives and developing future programs and events. The Assistant Recreation Director is responsible for working directly with students to provide safe, responsible, well-supervised afterschool and summer programs. The position is responsible for establishing a positive rapport with students and guardians, co-workers, and preparing materials and supplies. During the summer, the Assistant Director will also be a Camp Director at the Waterbury Recreation Summer Camp. The individual will help manage the recreation department’s communications, including our website and social media. Experience with aquatics is preferred. Salary position: $55,000-$65,000
Apply online: waterburyvt.com/departments/finance
Blue Heron Building, one of the top residential renovation/remodelers in the area is looking for a part time carpenter to join the team. Competitive pay and benefits dependent on applicant qualifications and experience. Flexible scheduling options a must. This part-time position has the potential to become a full-time position.
Requirements:
• Interested in renovation/remodel work.
Location: Keen’s Crossing Apartments, Winooski, VT 05404
Hours: Full Time 30 hours per week
• Good physical condition and endurance level with the ability to lift and move typical heavy construction materials.
• Ability to adhere to agreed upon work schedule.
• Have flexibility with work schedule.
• Have own transportation and be comfortable commuting to the southern half or so of Chittenden County.
• Comfortable and personable with clients.
• Maintain a professional appearance.
• Skill level commensurate with experience.
To apply, please visit: blueheronbuilding.com/contact-careers, fill out the form and include a resume. Blue Heron is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
Our apprenticeship program is a paid opportunity to become a phlebotomist with no experience required.
APPLY NOW jobforward.org/phlebotomy
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
$2,000 SIGN ON BONUS
External candidates are eligible for a one-time sign-on bonus paid over 3 installments. Amounts reflect gross pay, prior to applicable tax withholdings and deductions required by law. Current University of Vermont Health Network employees are excluded and additional terms and conditions apply. Questions? Call or Email
• Guaranteed paid employment on day one of training
• Direct patient care
• Team environment
• Full Benefits
• Dedicated support during the 5-week program
• Paid Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam
The ideal candidate will enjoy becoming involved in a variety of tasks in a team-based supportive environment. You would assist with the leasing and marketing initiatives at Keens Crossing. Some of these tasks include: conducting property tours, communicating with prospective renters, processing and managing applications, meeting with applicants, taking work orders from residents, providing extraordinary customer service to current residents, scheduling appointments, taking the lead on the marketing efforts and community outreach, planning resident events and several administrative tasks such as filing, copying, making phone calls and supporting the property manager in the needs of the property. Must be able to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Strong sales aptitude and computer proficiency is required.
The work schedule is Monday – Friday 10:30-5:00. Candidate must be flexible and willing to work as needed. HallKeen offers a generous benefits package! In order to be considered for this position, we will need for you to email us a resume and cover letter including your salary requirements. In your cover letter tell us about yourself and what strengths you could bring to the position.
Please email your cover letter/resume to dfinnigan@hallkeen.com
THE TOWN OF JERICHO is accepting applications for a Highway Maintenance Worker Level II. This is a full-time position that requires a CDL (min Class “B”) and the ability to work outside of regular working hours routinely. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of experience in highway maintenance, snow plowing, construction procedures, and methods at the municipal level. Equipment operation experience is a plus.
The starting hourly wage is dependent on qualifications. The Town of Jericho offers excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance, as well as a retirement plan.
An application and job description can be downloaded from www.jerichovt.org. They are also available at the Jericho Town Hall, at 67 VT Rt. 15, Jericho, M-TH 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Completed applications can be submitted to Linda Blasch in person, via email at lblasch@jerichovt.gov or mail to PO Box 39, Jericho, VT 05465. The position is open until filled.
Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform (VCJR) is seeking a Service Coordinator to join our team! Provide case management and related services for people living with substance use disorders. Some driving required with mileage reimbursement provided.
Job Type: Full-time in person (Burlington, VT). Anticipated starting salary: $43,000$45,000 per year, plus benefits for full-time 40 hour per week employment. Please request a full job description or submit a cover letter and resume to Jess Kirby via email at jess@vcjr.org.
New Learning Journey is seeking a Business Manager at the Knoll Farm location.
We are seeking a passionate and detail-oriented business manager, a key leadership role responsible for managing the fiscal health of our $1.2 million dollar nonprofit organization dedicated to social justice.
Details and to apply use the QR Code: 2v-KnollFarm082725.indd 1 8/22/25 4:09 PM Internal Content Producer
Seeking a person with a passion for community media to join our team as a full-time Internal Content Producer.
The position requires strong communication & storytelling skills, attention to detail, and the ability to craft effective marketing and educational content. 2 years of professional video production and editing experience is required. Full time starting at $20.90/hour plus benefits.
Full description and to apply: mediafactory.org/ careers-internships
Serious inquiries only! shelburneorchards@gmail.com
1t-ShelburneOrchards091025.indd 1 9/9/25 11:13 AM
Support a 30-year-old individual with high-functioning autism in the community and in daily life activities 3 to 9 hours a week. $25/hour. Some driving is needed, but it is not 100% necessary. Prior experience is a plus. prubaird@gmail.com
2v-MediaFactory091025.indd 1 9/4/25 11:29 AM
The Knowledge & Grants Manager plays a critical role in ensuring Outright Vermont makes data-informed decisions, meets reporting obligations, and strengthens its impact. This position oversees data collection, management, and evaluation systems across the organization; manages grant reporting requirements; and coordinates the grant proposal process. In alignment with our Queer Ethic and Guiding Principles as well as our Theory of Change, this role plays a key part in fostering a culture of communication across teams—ensuring that information is accessible, relevant, and reflective of the experiences and goals of youth, staff, and community.
What We Offer: This position is currently offered at the Manager level with a hiring range of $74,000 - $79,000. This is a full time, salaried, 35-hour per week hybrid position. We offer a comprehensive benefit package including fully paid health and life insurance, 403b retirement contribution, cell phone stipend, generous PTO with two weeks off in your first year, 23 holidays, as well as personal and sick days.
The deadline to apply is Monday, October 6, 2025. See our website for more information and send your materials to hiring@outrightvt.org
PCI Consulting is expanding our team! We are seeking a highly organized, self-motivated, and experienced Project Manager to join our OPM team. As a well-established, respected, and growing capital project management firm, we work with a wide range of clients across Vermont to bring some of the most interesting and exciting capital projects to life!
This is a great opportunity to integrate into an innovative project management/owner’s representation team, dedicated to the success of our commercial, educational, municipal, healthcare, and institutional clients. At PCI, we foster an internal culture that supports a work life balance through a generous compensation/ benefits package, flexible hours, and opportunities for professional development. If you are looking for a fulfilling future, flexibility, and working in a collaborative environment where you can succeed, we’d love to hear from you!
PCI Consulting is an equal opportunity employer (M/F/D/V).
The Project Manager: Plans and manages a wide variety of capital projects for clients.
• Bachelor's degree in construction management preferred. Other degrees in combination with experience will be considered.
• 2+ years of demonstrated capital project/ construction management experience
• 2+ years of demonstrated leadership and/or management experience
• Google Suite and Microsoft Office Proficiency required
• Ability to read and thoroughly understand blueprints/specifications is required.
• Experience using software such as Bluebeam, AutoCAD, or Revit, is preferred
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organization skills
• Ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple large, small and/or complex projects
• Ability to be self-directed, self-motivated, and goal orientated
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule
• Though not required, experience in estimating and performing takeoffs is preferred
• PCI offers a competitive compensation package and a collaborative work environment.
Pay: $38 - $42 per hour
Benefits:
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Mileage reimbursement
• Wellness and professional development allowances
• Ability to commute/relocate: Burlington, VT
05401: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Send resumes to: hannah@pcivt.com
Organization Overview: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is a leading not-for-profit business organization dedicated to advancing Vermont’s economy. We advocate for businesses, build community, and provide valuable resources statewide.
Position Overview: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce seeks a Tourism Marketing and Sales Manager to help promote Vermont as a top destination and support the growth of the state’s visitor economy. This role focuses on building relationships, generating advertising sales, and supporting marketing efforts that showcase Vermont’s tourism industry.
The Manager guides the advertising sales strategy for the Tourism Marketing Program, Stay & Play Directory, Vermont Vacation Guides, and Road Map & Guide, while also providing support for the Vermont Attractions Association and Vermont Tourism Network. The position will encompass project management duties, including attention to production timelines, vendor relationships, and content strategy across digital and print platforms, including VermontVacation.com, ensuring consistency with Chamber brand standards.
The ideal candidate is a motivated professional with strong communication and organizational skills who enjoys working with businesses, partners, and stakeholders to create successful marketing programs. We are looking for a team player who can manage multiple programs and projects simultaneously and understands that a successful business community is important to the economic health of Vermont.
This role will support the Senior Director of Programming in the following ways:
• Build and maintain relationships with tourism businesses and partners
• Manage digital and print advertising sales and meet annual revenue goals
• Support the development of tourism marketing materials in both print and digital formats
• Coordinate projects and vendors to ensure timely, high-quality results
• Contribute to programs that strengthen Vermont’s tourism brand and visitor experience
• 3–5 years of experience in sales, marketing, communications, or a related field
• Proven ability to meet sales or revenue goals
• Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with partners and manage multiple projects
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary range: $55,000–$70,000 per year, commensurate with experience, with potential sales incentive opportunities. This position includes the full benefits package available to full-time employees of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
Work Environment and Application: This position is hybrid-remote with at least one day a week at the Berlin, VT office. This position requires some in-state travel and may occasionally require work outside of traditional office hours.
Interested candidates should submit a resume to jobs@vtchamber.com along with a cover letter that demonstrates how your knowledge and experience align with this position. If you reside outside of Vermont, please include in your cover letter why you are interested in relocating.
Mission Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to advancing the Vermont economy. Trusted by the businesses that make living, working, and thriving in Vermont possible, we prioritize collaboration and uphold the core values that define our state.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Belief Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce believes in supporting a vibrant economy through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We are committed to breaking down systemic barriers, promoting acceptance, and ensuring a welcoming business environment. Vermont’s economic growth and prosperity depend on our ability to embrace all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, geographic location, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Counseling Service of Addison County | Middlebury, Vermont Lead with purpose. Build community. Transform lives.
Join the leadership team of our Developmental Services Program to lead change, ensure service quality and make a lasting impact -while honoring the strength and choice of the clients we serve.
Key Responsibilities:
• Provide leadership and oversight to Service Coordinators and direct service teams.
• Guide program development and innovation, including supported employment, residential options, and community-based services.
• Support staff growth through supervision, training, and professional development.
• Build strong partnerships with families, guardians, schools, and community providers.
• Contribute to system-wide planning, budgeting, and payment reform initiatives.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field required; Master’s preferred.
• 3+ years of progressive leadership experience in developmental or human services.
• Strong knowledge of Vermont’s developmental services system, Medicaid rules, and person-centered planning preferred.
• Excellent skills in supervision, program management, and collaboration.
• Ability to balance compliance and innovation in a changing system.
40 hours per week, starting at $71,000. Comprehensive benefits package.
To apply, visit csac-vt.org/careers/careers.html. E.O.E.
Do you have a passion for emergency response, crisis management, and community impact? Join CVOEO as our Emergency Services Director (ESD) a key leadership role responsible for shaping and strengthening our emergency shelter network and crisis response services across our programs and communities.
The Emergency Services Director, a member of CVOEO's Administrative Team, leads the planning, implementation, and evaluation of our emergency services programs — especially during extreme climate events and other crises. You will be at the forefront of CVOEO’s emergency shelter response, supporting our team, facilities, and community with clarity, compassion, and strategic leadership.
Key Responsibilities: Oversee CVOEO’s emergency shelter operations and support teams responding to homelessness and extreme weather events. Provide supervision and strengthen collaboration among CVOEO shelters to optimize resources and services. Ensure agencywide emergency and safety planning across all CVOEO locations, facilitate CVOEO's Risk Committee and maintain essential safety plans. Deliver training on emergency preparedness, workplace safety and risk management. Serve as on-site manager for shelters activated during emergencies and act as leadership support for shelter operations as needed.
What We're Looking For: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Public Administration, Emergency Preparedness or a related field plus a minimum of two years of experience in program management, with at least two years specifically in homeless services or emergency assistance programs, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired. Proven leadership in emergency services, crisis response, or shelter management; ability to lead under pressure and coordinate complex, cross-functional responses; experience in risk assessment, safety planning, and emergency training; and strong interpersonal, communication, and supervisory skills. Commitment to equity, dignity, and empowerment — the values at the heart of CVOEO’s mission and vision.
Why Join CVOEO?: At CVOEO, we are committed to addressing fundamental issues of economic justice, housing, food security, and more. As part of our team, you’ll help lead innovative, life-saving responses for Vermonters facing crisis — and play a vital role in building a stronger, more resilient community.
When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous paid time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership.
Ready to Apply?: If you're ready to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you! Visit www.cvoeo.org/careers to apply and view the full job description. We are one of the Best Places To Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why!
Do you believe everyone deserves access to nourishing food? Are you passionate about equity, community engagement, and making systems work better for people?
Join Hunger Free Vermont as our new 3SquaresVT Specialist and help end hunger in our state through education, advocacy, and outreach Learn more about this position and apply at hungerfreevt.org/employment
2h-HungerFreeVT091025.indd 1
We are seeking a highly organized, self-motivated, and experienced Clerk of the Works to join our team. As a well-established, respected, and growing capital project management firm, we work with a wide range of clients across Vermont to bring some of the most interesting and exciting capital projects to life!
This is a great opportunity to integrate into an experienced project management team, dedicated to the success of our commercial, educational, municipal, healthcare, and institutional clients. At PCI, we foster an internal culture that supports a work-life balance through a generous compensation/benefits package, flexible hours, and opportunities for professional development. If you are looking for a fulfilling future, flexibility, and working in a collaborative environment where you can succeed, we’d love to hear from you!
The Clerk of the Works: Spends the majority of their time on job sites, ensures that contract documents are adhered to, witnesses and documents any required testing, maintains detailed records of all construction activities, keeps the project team informed of any potential issues, and works closely with PCI’s Project Managers to ensure the schedule and budget are adhered to. When not on site, the Clerk of the Works: works with Project managers to plan and manage a wide variety of capital projects for clients; Develops and maintains positive working relationships with clients, co-workers, professionals, end-users, and other project stakeholders; Contributes to and supports the structural and strategic evolution of the firm in keeping with the goals of the business; Ensures consistent delivery of services to all constituents; Contributes to continuous process improvement and integration of new ideas into the business; Develops new client relationships and business.
9/8/25 1:37 PM
• 5+ years of demonstrated, field construction experience in a supervisory role
• Experience with Construction Management software, such as Procore, is required
• Google Suite and Microsoft Office Proficiency is required
• Ability to read and thoroughly understand blueprints/specifications is required.
• Experience using software such as Bluebeam, AutoCAD, or Revit, is preferred
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule
• Though not required, experience in estimating and performing takeoffs is preferred
Salary: $36.00 - $40.00 per hour
PCI offers a competitive compensation package and a collaborative work environment.
Ability to commute/relocate: Burlington, VT 05401: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Send resumes to: hannah@pcivt.com
PCI Consulting is an E.O.E. (M/F/D/V).
The Barre Unified Union School District is hiring for the following positions:
- Master Electrician ($80,000 - $85,000/yr)
- Groundskeeper ($20.99/hr)
Benefits: Health & Dental Insurance, Retirement Plan, Paid Sick, Vacation, & Personal Time.
For more details, view these postings at buusd.org/careers
To apply, submit resume and 3 references to:
Jamie Evans, Facilities Director jevanbsu@buusd.org buusd.org
4t-BarreUnifiedUSD091025
All Souls seeks part-time (four hours per week) Bookkeeper for oversight of financial and business transactions of the organization.
Responsibilities:
• Maintain financial and employment records.
• Log revenue in Quickbooks; make bank deposits.
• Regularly assess internal controls.
• Enter invoices, cut checks, submit for signature.
• Balance and reconcile checking account and investment accounts.
• Prepare quarterly reports for the Board of Directors.
• Compile annual donor giving records.
• Process payroll on a twice monthly basis.
• Prepare payroll tax forms, W-2s, and 1099s.
• Prepare for internal reviews, compilations, or audits.
• Attend staff meetings once a month.
Requirements:
• Previous bookkeeping success
• Handle confidential information professionally
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Degree from two or four-year institution preferred
Experience/Skills:
• Experience in account reconciliation.
• Proficiency in Quickbooks, MS Word, Excel.
• Attention to detail and precision in report generation
• Good interpersonal skills and a commitment to teamwork and support of All Souls ministries.
• Commitment to confidentiality regarding all account records.
Hourly Rate: $22 to $24 per hour
To apply, send resume, letter, and three references to Pastor Don Chatfield: dchatfield@allsoulsinterfaith.org. All Souls
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Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.
“Did you read all those?”
(AUG. 23-SEP.22)
The basenji is a dog breed that doesn’t bark. Instead, it produces an eerie, melodic yodel called a baroo. This oddity isn’t a flaw or drawback; it’s an interesting uniqueness. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to express your personal versions of the baroo — your idiosyncratic offerings and singular gifts. Playfully resist the pressure to be more conventional or “on brand.” Be faithful to what yearns to come out of you, which may be raw, radiant and a little weird. Let your authenticity be exactly what it is: a beacon, not a liability.
ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): I can’t speak the Quechua language, which is Indigenous to the Andes Mountains. But I have lifted one of their words to use for our purposes here: munay. It refers to an intensely practical and visionary love that includes far more than sweet feelings and affection. When we practice munay, we offer discerning respect and detailed appreciation to those we adore. We are generously eager to help our allies live their best lives. It takes discipline! And focus! And ingenuity! To be a rigorous and vigorous source of munay, we must cultivate it as a dai-
ly practice. In the coming weeks, Aries, I hope you will go a bit wild in your expression of this tender force of nature. Imagine yourself as a gentle whirlwind of love that spreads interesting beauty and bestows useful blessings. Be a relentless dispenser of catalytic gifts.
TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): The medieval Persian polymath Avicenna believed the soul entered the fetus not with the first heartbeat but with the first dream. I offer this idea for your poetic consideration, dear Taurus. Let’s imagine that the next beautiful thing you create will not arise from your forceful intention. Rather, it will emerge because you give yourself permission to fantasize, to wander freely in wonder and to meander with curiosity on the frontiers. Your assignment is not to hustle but to incubate; not to push forward but to dwell expectantly in the mystery.
GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): The bowerbird constructs elaborate ground-based shrines not as nests but as seduction lures. The enticer might gather blue bottle caps, yellow flowers and shiny stones so as to create a scene that piques the attention of a potential mate. These objets d’art are not merely decorative. They are displays that demonstrate discernment, skill and aesthetic intelligence. I authorize you to be like a bowerbird, Gemini. What collection of symbols, words, gestures and curiosities will magnetize the people or opportunities you long to engage with? It’s not about flashiness; it’s about alignment. What you draw into your sphere will reflect the vibes you emanate.
CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): The pearl doesn’t begin as treasure. In its earliest form, it’s an irritation: a grain of sand that’s really a wound inside the oyster. Over time, the creature coats it with layers of nacre, turning discomfort into luminescence. Let’s use that as a metaphor for you, Cancerian. In my view, your task right now is not to escape or shed what’s bugging you but to expedite the coating process. What is that gritty thing? A memory, injustice or unmet yearning? It’s crucial you don’t reject it and don’t let it fester. I think it’s best to turn it, layer by layer, into a luminous asset, even a treasure. Prediction: The pearl you form will long outlast the wound.
LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Olive trees can thrive in rugged environments, including rocky and nutrient-poor soils. Their root systems are wide, deep and resilient. They are well adapted to full sun, high temperatures and low water availability. In comparing you to an olive tree, Leo, I’m not implying you will always have to be as hardy as they are. But in the coming weeks, you will be wise to be equally plucky and persevering. Here’s another fact about the olive tree you can and should emulate: Its fruit is valuable and in demand.
LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Scientists discovered that some caterpillars, while dissolving inside their cocoons, retain memories of their caterpillar lives even after becoming butterflies. In my view, that’s equivalent to us humans remembering details of our previous incarnations: having an all-new body but being able to draw on what our past body learned. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be able to draw on this amazing capacity in the coming weeks. The person you used to be will have key revelations and inspirations for the future you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): According to Celtic mythology, Cerridwen is the goddess of inspiration. In her cauldron, she brews magical elixirs that bestow the powers of wisdom, creativity and transformation. The humans most likely to earn her blessings are those who are patient and willing to be changed. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are now at the top of the eligibility list for gifts such as these. And the next three weeks will be the most favorable time for you to ask for and receive such blessings. Here’s a clue that will help you get all you deserve: Believe in magic.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Chinese philosophy, ziran means naturalness, spontaneity. It might refer to the way a mountain is purely a mountain and a wave is a wave without trying to be a wave. I think you Sagittarians are due for an extended engagement with this wild ease and elegant freedom. After weeks of inner labor, your soul wants to breathe in ziran. Your assignment is to let yourself be as natural and unconstrained as you dare — not correct or careful
or “optimized.” So I advise you to head in the direction of what’s simple and real and good. Emphasize smoothness over effort. Choose your rhythm, not theirs. You aren’t required to prove your healing. You just have to live it.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Serendipity” is an English term that refers to beautiful accidents, fortunate interruptions, unexpected opportunities and surprisingly wonderful discoveries (The French equivalent is sérendipité; Italian: serendipità; Japanese: serendipiti.) The word didn’t exist until 1754, when author Horace Walpole coined it. Lovely outbreaks of good luck and uncanny blessings had been happening from time immemorial, of course, even though there wasn’t this precise word for them. Here’s a key point: They are more likely to occur if you believe they’re possible and make yourself alert for their arrival. That’s good advice for you right now.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The placenta is the only organ that the human body creates from scratch and then discards. Let’s pause for a moment to register how remarkable this is: to grow a temporary life-support system and then jettison it once its purpose is fulfilled. Inspired by this miracle, I speculate that you may soon undertake a metaphorical version of it. A situation or experience that has nurtured you is reaching the end of its mission. Though it has served you well, the wise move might be to outgrow it and move on to a new phase of your evolution. At the very least, it’s time to embark on a search for new forms of nourishment.
PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): In Balinese gamelan music, there’s a technique called kotekan. Two instrumentalists play distinct musical parts that together create a seamless, intricately melodic and rhythmic texture. Let’s make this your metaphor to live by in the coming weeks, Pisces. In my astrological opinion, you are not meant to work solo. Your greatest success and most fun will come by generating harmony through collaborative improvisation and shared timing. A small warning: Someone else’s input may at first feel like interference, but it’s actually the missing part of the song. Let yourself blend, bounce, echo and respond. Genius will be born in the spaces between.
For 30 years Seven Days delivery technicians have crisscrossed the state bringing newspapers to people at a wide variety of locations every Wednesday. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger talked to drivers, some of whom have been with the paper from the start, and followed one on his route.
HOMEBODY AND TYPE 2 FUN
Hi there! Looking for my forever mealprep partner. Ideally someone to join me on my newly discovered type 2 fun activities as well! Reach out if you want to dry heave up a mountain together. pinecone802, 28, seeking: M, l
UNPRETENTIOUS, CARING WORD-LOVER
Outdoorsy retired journalist seeking intelligent irreverent soul to share mutually enjoyable pursuits. For me these include music — roots, alt-folk, blues; cold winters, summer sun, hiking, skiing, cycling. I’m drawn to those who don’t take themselves too seriously. My son, grandkids and Labrador Nina mean everything. Treading lightly after losing my life partner, seeking friendship that may evolve into something deeper. elkaytee 68, seeking: M, l
NEW IN TOWN, SEEKING COMPANION
I am seeking a kindred spirit — someone to explore with. I love the outdoors — hiking, skiing, paddling — and I love cultural things: art galleries, vintage shops, indie films. I like going out for coffee, shopping, music, and also hanging out at home watching TV with my pup. I am healthy and active and seek the same. newVTher 63, seeking: M, l
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
You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!
All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.
l See photos of this person online.
W = Women
M = Men
TW = Trans women
TM = Trans men
Q = Genderqueer people
NBP = Nonbinary people
NC = Gender nonconformists
Cp = Couples
Gp = Groups
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
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
YOU?
Statuesque. Celtic. Worth it. OceanMaeve 70, seeking: M
THIS IS ME
Moved to Burlington after many years inside the beltway. I have secured living quarters with a balcony, procured a Subaru and an ice scraper, and taken my dog on a lot of woodsy walks. Seeking someone to have dinner with and see how it goes.
New2Subarucountry, 52, seeking: M, l
LIVING MY NEW LIFE
I am recently — in the last year — living as a single woman again. My life is good but not full. There is a void. A companion, a friend maybe. It would be fun to have someone to do things with, be it a walk, go to flea markets, antiques shops, museums, road trips, movies. Newlife2025 64, seeking: M, l
EXPLORING THIS LIFETIME MOMENT
Interested in meaningful conversations and activities. Accepting of differences. Require quality time outdoors daily. INFJ, 65 seeking: W
LIVING WITH PURPOSE
Seeking a true partner for the best that is to come. itry, 44, seeking: M
CURIOUS, CREATIVE, CARING, HOPEFUL
I’m a teacher, mother to two, well traveled but at heart a homebody, caring, creative, intelligent, fit and open-minded. Looking for a committed relationship with a man who’s kind, fun, smart, and open-minded, with a great sense of humor. Relationships unfold slowly, starting with friendship and allowing things to go where they will. Physical chemistry depends on strong communication and emotional intimacy. Helen, 66, seeking: M, l
CREATIVE, DARK-HUMORED REALIST
I’m a fantastic storyteller, but it turns out describing myself here feels impossible (and a lot like torture). Meeting Vermont folks should be easy — I’m a creative looking to spend more time doing stuff outdoors with intelligent and kind people. So, here goes: getting outside my comfort zone to get closer to a life I’ve imagined for myself. GULP. itcantrainallthetime47, 47, seeking: M, l
ROAD LESS TRAVELED
I’ve lived a life outside the mainstream, guided by a belief in right-livelihood. Neurodivergent in the ADD kind of way; I am a curious, opinionated audiophile with a background as a librarian. I like to think I can laugh at myself (kindly) and look for the best in others. Looking for new friends: open to a potential long-term partnership. Kindred, 58, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l
OPEN-MINDED, UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSIONATE
Looking for a playmate to share adventures with. Someone who is positive and sees the glass as half full, or better yet, full. Someone who likes the outdoors and enjoys hiking, kayaking and, above all, laughter. And honesty is a must. Cynder, 76, seeking: M, l
IF YOU LIKE PIÑA COLADAS
Middle-aged, dog-loving woman with a badass job, sharp humor and no patience for small talk. You: stable, kind, weird in the best way. Let’s laugh over dinner, maybe escape town (separate rooms!) and see what happens — no pressure, no script, just two grown-ups figuring out if this could be something worth exploring. vtpinacoladagirl 49, seeking: M
LET’S MAKE PLANS
Hi. My name is Jonnie. I live in the middle of nowhere, N.Y., I work in Vt. I see things from a different view and angle. Time is important to me not because it moves forward but because of what is created in that moment. I love music, like a good conversation and anything. I’m easy to talk with. Ttys. Jonnie74 50, seeking: M, W, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp
LAID-BACK, OLD-SCHOOL
Just lost the love of my life to cancer. Money-wise, I am not rich. I am honest, caring, loving, always making my partner happy. I don’t like being alone. I am looking for a woman who does not care about what I don’t have, but more what I do have, and that’s love and honesty. indian 69, seeking: W
LIFE-LOVING, FUNNY, CONSIDERATE
After 55 years of traveling the world for business, I have landed in the Mad River Valley and am loving it! I love all the seasons (well, not mud season). I still work as a consultant and occasionally travel, but mostly work via Zoom. I am in search of someone to attend the theater, festivals, and to dine out with. Alan70, 69, seeking: W, l
DIRTY HANDS, CLEAN SOUL
I am a hardworking, genuine person. I am kind of old-fashioned. I have way too many hobbies: I enjoy working on vehicles and small engines, working on firewood, maple sugaring, welding, and four-wheeling. In the winter I like snowmobiling and snow plowing. I am looking for a committed relationship with a down-to-Earth country girl. Blacktruckman, 29, seeking: W, l
FUN, HONEST AND HARDWORKING
Semi-retired arborist living in the Adirondacks looking to continue loving. Looking for an emotionally mature woman who is looking to be loved and respected, and to have fun. Love to cook, listen to music, walk in the woods, garden, take road trips to New Orleans and out West, and volunteer time to help others. Healthy, active and always trying to learn more. Treedude 70, seeking: W, l
SEVENTY-ONE AND STILL ROCKING
Semiretired, widowed and would like to meet someone to walk, hike, bike and see concerts and events with. The still rocking refers to my performing locally with several music groups, mainly classic and bluesy rock. But I enjoy pretty much all expressions of music, dance and art! Epiphone335 71, seeking: W, l
ALWAYS IN A GOOD MOOD/HAPPY
Independent, self-employed builder/ woodworker. I like history and museums, travel, games, cooking. I like to read, probably watch too much TV. I’m looking for a woman who is smart, works hard, looks nice, is self-confident, has a sense of humor, is happy and not too moody. Someone who knows the value and enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures, friends, family and good food. 2nd_ Gen_Irish_Italian 63, seeking: W, l
LAID-BACK
I am a 67-year-old widower. I think that having a life without someone to share it with is no life. Looking for a woman who has old-time values. tdl1711 67, seeking: W, l
RENAISSANCE PERSON HOPELESSLY ROMANTIC
To do justice, love, kindness and walk humbly with my God. Clapham 55, seeking: W, l KIND, FUNNY (LOOKING), SENSITIVE
Age 54, happy, insightful, kind, good listener, well-read, open-hearted lover of animals and nature seeks intelligent and compassionate woman for laughs, good times, friendship, connection and maybe more. I live close to the land, love to garden, hike and camp, but also go out often to restaurants, plays and art. I enjoy all things human and beautiful. 2Baldman 54, seeking: W, l
CURIOUS, COMPASSIONATE AND CONSIDERATE
Presently in an open marriage. Looking for women who like to be with a married man (who has permission). MrSteelandBrawn, 64 seeking: W, l
ADVENTURE MIXED WITH CHILL
Have fun, hang out and refuse to stop learning! Let’s grow plants, connection and much more. I love snowboarding but am nervous around people who don’t blaze or people who ski, or who ride bicycles in tight outfits. But outdoorsy adventure sports and learning and teaching about soil. Passion for Pachamama, as well. Lots of good food combined with foraging. Snowmalpickles, 36, seeking: W, l
ACTIVITY PARTNER
I am looking for someone to enjoy each other’s company and see where it goes. friendfirst 60, seeking: W, l
LET TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT
It’s hard to describe oneself. I’m told that I have a great sense of humor. I am well read, love to talk about history, politics and lots more. I like music: blues, rock, some classic — depends on the mood, I guess. I like swimming, kayaking, going for a ride to nowhere. In winter I like going on a walk on a bright sunny day. Vtman52 73, seeking: W, l
MYSTERY MAN
I enjoy everything that nature has provided us. I spend 95 percent of my days outdoors. Hiking, biking, kayaking and downhill/XC skiing. My ideal partner would share in some of these activities and share with me the activities that encompass their life. It’s so important to share and grow. MisteryMan 63, seeking: W, l
HONEST AND OPEN-MINDED
I’m a retired history teacher looking for a companion/partner to enjoy life with me. I’m in good health physically and mentally. Looking for honest, kind and intelligent woman for companionship exploring back roads and local history as well as finding the best cup of coffee, conversation and taking in local sports events. CW38 75, seeking: W, 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
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: openminded, active, curious, tough, cuddly and communicative. You have goals but can be spontaneous. Learning Spanish or ASL? Practice with me. WildWeirdWonderful 41, seeking: W, Q, NC, NBP, l
KNOTTEE COUPLE
Complicated couple looking for woman or couple for friends with benefits. We would like to boat and grab a beverage with like-minded couple or woman and see where it goes from there. knotteecpl 66, seeking: W, Cp
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
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
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
LOWE’S
You were shopping for mini blinds or shades. Later, you were at the self-checkout at the same time I was. As we were walking out you kindly offered to help me carry a long bulky item to my car. I wish I had accepted your help so we could have talked a bit. If you see this, please respond. anks! When: Saturday, August 23, 2025. Where: Lowe’s in Essex. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916421
SHANNON AND DWEEB
My heart speaks your name in every moment. You are the softest light in my darkest hours, the calm in the chaos, the dream I never dared to wish for. Loving you feels like breathing — effortless, essential, infinite. With you, even silence feels like music, and time slows just to let me stay in your arms a little longer. When: Sunday, September 29, 2024. Where: Cambridge. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916420
SHOPPING AT MICHAEL’S
To the lovely lady shopping at Michael’s today: You smiled at me when you saw me, and I thought you were beautiful. I wish I hadn’t been too shy to talk to you. When: ursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Michael’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916418
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN WHITE
Beautiful blond woman in white dress, white shoes with a red scarf tied around her. You were walking in Middlebury and then sitting in the park. I smiled as I drove by in a work truck. Tried to come back just to tell you how beautiful and confident you looked, sitting there. You were gone. You are stunning! When: ursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Middlebury. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916417
DEDICATED RECYCLER FOR HELPFUL SHOPKEEP
I stopped by your store on the way back from a bike ride and asked a question about recycling. e lights kept going out. Was it a sign? A helpful poltergeist? Maybe you were just being friendly, but on the off chance you were interested, let me know where we met and we can keep the banter going over a coffee! When: Saturday, August 16, 2025. Where: while you were working at a store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916416
PIZZA AND PLAY?
A couple who loves our weekly slice at Two Brothers Pizza, where service is nice! Hey, with your charming light, join us for some fun and a magical night? If you’re down for laughter and a little spice, let’s join up after you’re done with your slice? When: Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Where: Two Brothers Pizza. You: Woman. Me: Couple. #916414
HONEST, FAITHFUL, LOYAL
No offense to anyone! How you live your life is your business, but I would love to know: Are there men out there who still believe in the old-fashioned ways? Loyalty, honesty, faithfulness, and dating women your own age because you feel secure in your age and you don’t need a young girl to feel like a man. When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: everywhere. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916413
TO THE RACE CAR DRIVER
To the man who helped me through a tough time: You made me laugh and actually had me believing that maybe not all guys are jerks. We talked for many months. en you just blew me off and I heard it was because you were dating someone. Why couldn’t you just be honest? I only asked you for your friendship. Dishonesty sucks! When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: under Road. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916412
SILVER FOX, MAPLE STREET POOL
I noticed you noticing me, and I wanted to give you notice that I noticed you back. When: ursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Maple Street Pool with your son. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916419
RAVENS GIRL
I saw you at JP’s this past Saturday and we caught a glance. You smiled as you ate your French toast. You were wearing a Ravens Jersey with the number 52 on it. I was sitting close to you, also wearing a Ravens Jersey, and we shared a moment. Would love to catch a game with you sometime! When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: JP’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916411
FOCUSED CUTIE AT RESOURCE BURLINGTON
Looking back at the entrance and noticed you pausing to look over your shoulder my way. OK, we’re both looking to repurpose things, or just cheap. Me: tall, gray mesh hat, gray shirt, tan pants. You: blond, red-and-white-striped halter top. Wanted to ask what you were looking for. I’d like to know if you found it. When: ursday, August 14, 2025. Where: ReSOURCE Burlington, Pine Street. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916410
BOULE CAFÉ: BIRD TATTOO GUY
You: bird tattoo (swallow?), Birkenstocks, red Honda, super cute. Me: flustered laptop goblin at Boule Bakery in St. Johnsbury, too shy to say hello when you sat nearby. I kept stealing glances, wondering if you were doing the same. Felt like something there — or maybe just caffeine. Either way, if you see this: would love to meet you. When: ursday, August 14, 2025. Where: Boule Bakery in St. Johnsbury. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916409
MEMORIES OF KIND MOTORISTS
In 2020 or 2021 my nervous system had been completely destroyed by complex trauma. I was sitting on the side of the road by Community Bank in Jericho, and a kind man pulled over. He really wanted to help me and I wanted to let him, but I trusted no one. Other motorists also pulled over. ank you all! I’m safe now. When: Friday, June 5, 2020. Where: Community Bank in Jericho (can’t recall the exact date). You: Group. Me: Woman. #916408
SNOW
You were in back of me in line at Snow Farm Vineyards when my kiddo smacked my ass. You: male, blue shirt, blue hat, sunglasses, facial hair. Me: blond hair, white shirt, jeans, sassy kid. Saw you while I was dancing. You were under the white tent. Single? Going to A House On Fire on August 14? Will look for you! When: ursday, August 7, 2025. Where: Snow Farm Vinyards Wine Down. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916407
YOU MADE MY DAY!
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, he walks into mine.” Of all the grocery stores, you walked into mine! I gleamed your boyish grin, twinkling eyes and that familiar goatee standing behind me. Time froze. I embraced you in that serendipitous moment. I’ll never forget it! What a day! “As Time Goes By.” When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: Hannaford Shelburne Rd., South Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916406
HEATED
An attitude stemming from abusers within the age range: for some, “just giving a compliment” is the toxic masculinity that perpetuates the deaccession of mankind. Maybe if you complimented women your own age, they wouldn’t be siphoning the life energy of women younger and/or sexualizing themselves. When: Monday, August 4, 2025. Where: everywhere not listening. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916405
BJORN
We were supposed to be best friends and finish watching e Hobbit together. You wanted to domesticate a dinosaur. Have you changed the world yet, with your brilliant mind and chalkboard calculations? Remember the great condiment exchange? Have you danced naked in your house yet? How are your plants and fish doing? How are you? Miss having you around. — Bro When: Sunday, August 3, 2025. Where: a few years ago. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916404
YOU TOOK A DOUBLE TAKE!
I recently met someone. After a few dates, I spent the night at his house. When I went to take a shower, I asked if he had a washcloth I could use, and he told me that he didn’t own any. Is it just me or is that gross?
Many years ago, my parents went on a vacation to Ireland. When they got back, I thought I would hear all about their adventures. Instead, the first thing my mother said to me was: “ ey didn’t have any washcloths over there.” She whispered like it was some sort of international scandal.
While there don’t seem to be any solid scientific statistics about worldwide washcloth use, some surveys suggest that 68 percent of Americans do not use one. ey may use some other bathing implement, or they may just soap up their hands to do the dirty work. And that’s OK. Washcloths can be beneficial in exfoliating the skin, removing dirt and oil, and stimulating circulation. However, some people find them rough and irritating.
e big con for washcloths is that they can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and need to be laundered often. Not owning a washcloth shouldn’t be a huge red flag on this fella. It’s just a personal hygiene choice. You can certainly get clean without using one. Consider how often you wash your hands without a washcloth, yet you know they’re
Oakledge Park, around 5:30 on Saturday. Our eyes touched. You were with someone, and I was pushing a stroller up the ramp with my awesome beard. I am available, and you? When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: Oakledge Park. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916403 a clean.
If you plan on spending the night and showering at his house again, be prepared. Just as you would bring your own toothbrush, pack a washcloth. Bring it in a plastic bag or other waterproof container so you can take it back home with you. Another idea: Take a shower together and try turning him on to the wonders of washclothery.
Good luck and God bless,
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
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 am looking for an 81-y/o woman. #L1884
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 together. #L1880
I’m a 74-y/o male. It’s been a long, long time without feeling a woman’s touch. I miss sex. I would love to meet a single, divorced or widowed woman in her 70s or 80s. Did I mention I miss sex? Phone number, please. #L1879
I 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
I’m 65 y/o and gay. Male, seeking my partner/lover and best friend. Gregarious and fun-loving. Laughter and a sense of humor are the cornerstones of my life. As Jimmy Buffet says, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!” #L1875
Divorced white female, 66 y/o. Looking for a single male, 45 to 60, who is tall, not big. Who is loving, caring and fun to be with. I like being outdoors. I am disabled and use a wheelchair. I am loving, caring and honest and don’t play games. Like animals, and I am easy to get along with. I live in Winooski. Hope to hear from someone soon. #L1876
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
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
BELOW.
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
I’m a SWF, 71 y/o, seeking a man 60 to 70 y/o. I live in Woodstock, Vt. I want a serious relationship with a man. Phone number, please. Best to call after 6 p.m. Would like to meet in person. #L1874
Spunky couple, 70s, adventurous, love travel, camping, and anything on or near the water. We also enjoy the great array of music in Vermont. We’ve enjoyed some M and F singles and couples involving sensual, relaxed experiences. Interested? Let’s chat. #L1871
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FOTW Women's Ride
THU., SEP. 11
SAXON HILL TRAILHEAD, ESSEX JCT
Cathedral Arts Presents Paul Orgel
FRI., SEP. 12
CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON
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Cook the Book: Melissa Clark’s 'Dinner' Workshop featuring Chef Ariel Voorhees
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Mind Magic: A Night of Laughter and Astonishment
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Mountains and Trees Cake Decorating Class
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Northwood Gallery Speaker Series: Daryl Storrs
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NORTHWOOD GALLERY, STOWE
FOTW Trail Clinic
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SAXON HILL TRAILHEAD, ESSEX JCT
September Forest Sit
THU., SEP. 18
BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON
THU., SEP. 18-SUN., SEP. 21
Burlington Baroque Festival 2025
COLLEGE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURLINGTON
Fried Chicken & Pickin'
FRI., SEP. 19
MAPLE WIND FARM, RICHMOND
Oktoberfest Vermont 2025
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THE COAL COLLECTIVE, BURLINGTON
Botanical Perfume Blending Bar by Bloom Lab
SAT., SEP. 20
REVIEW HAIR + LASH LOUNGE, ESSEX JCT
The Current Beneath: TURNmusic plays String Quartets 2001-2025 by Erik Nielsen
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THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY
Pianist Robert McDonald – Capital City Concerts
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UNITARIAN CHURCH OF MONTPELIER
Drag Brunch
SUN., SEP. 21
STOWE STREET CAFÉ, WATERBURY
Perfume Blending Workshop by Bloom Lab
SUN., SEP. 21
MAQUAM BARN & WINERY, MILTON
Tracy Grammer - Folk Singer, Songwriter & Storyteller
SUN., SEP. 21
CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON
Sara Grey and Kieron Means
SUN., SEP. 21
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF THE UPPER VALLEY
