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FOR LAND’S SAKE Can Rural Vermont Rising influence fall elections?

V ERM ONT ’S INDEP E NDE NT V OIC E SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026 VOL.32 NO.3 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 15

After 19 years and 20 shows, Art at the Kent in Calais faces an uncertain future

BY AL I C E DODGE, PAGE 28

ALL-DAY EATS

PAGE 38

Unfussy fare at the Bidwell

‘REAL’ TALK

PAGE 45

Our new arts column debuts

CARDINAL SINS

PAGE 56

A punk-rock murder mystery

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WEEK IN REVIEW SEPTEMBER 16-23, 2026 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY COURTESY

ROCK OUT

Protesters during the July 24 demonstration

Montpelier residents opened their properties to bands that performed free outdoor shows for the city’s first Porchfest. A great success.

LIGHTS ON

AG TO PROSECUTE ICE PROTESTERS The Vermont Attorney General’s Office is bringing charges against protesters arrested during a July demonstration in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Williston. The decision marks the first time since protests began ramping up at ICE’s Williston surveillance center last fall that demonstrators will face prosecution. Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George has declined to charge protesters arrested there on two previous occasions, saying pursuing the low-level offenses would be a waste of her limited resources. Vermont State Police have started referring the cases instead to the AG’s office, which also has authority to prosecute. A spokesperson for Attorney General Charity Clark confirmed on Tuesday that all 13 people cited during the July 24 sit-in will be prosecuted. They were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, September 24, for misdemeanor charges of unlawful trespass. Reached Tuesday, George said she could not comment on the AG’s decision until after the arraignment. The July 24 protest targeted a building in Williston’s White Cap Business Park that houses the National Criminal Analysis Targeting Center, where ICE analysts collect and

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LOOKING FORWARD

MAGNIFICENT MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY RE BE CCA D RI SCOL L

THURSDAY 24

Hot Topic National security correspondent and author J.J. Green champions truth in an era of omnipresent disinformation. At Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, the veteran journalist draws on decades of frontline reporting in a chat with Champlain College president Alex Hernandez about his battle-tested blueprint for spotting digital propaganda and algorithmic manipulation. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27

SONG SUNG BLUES Two-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner Lynne Hanson lights up the stages at Sharon’s Seven Stars Arts Center and Plainfield Town Hall Opera House with thunderous guitar riffs and raw, gritty vocals. Balancing classic blues and roots music traditions, the Great White North’s “Queen of Americana” channels disarming authenticity in every number, from serene ballads to electrifying anthems. SEE CALENDAR LISTINGS ON PAGES 70 AND 72

FRIDAY 25

To Infinity and Beyond At Hood Museum of Art in Hanover, N.H., exhibiting artist Barbara Takenaga delivers an illuminating lecture on the influences and ideation behind her cosmic abstract paintings. The out-of-this-world presentation chronicles five decades of Takenaga’s meticulously crafted space- and science-inspired works, followed by a reception with starry-eyed listeners in the museum’s atrium. SEE ART LISTING ON PAGE 54

FRIDAY 25

Once in a Lifetime THURSDAY 24

The Book of Ruth Tony Award-winning playwright Rupert Holmes’ one-woman bioplay All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg brings heart, humor and scrunchies to the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. Michelle Azar (pictured) stars as the late trailblazing Supreme Court justice in an intimate recounting of her career, from high school valedictorian to defender of human rights on the bench. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

You won’t ask yourself “How did I get here?” at Paramount Theatre in Rutland, where Talking Heads band member Jerry Harrison hosts a screening of the visionary 1984 music doc Stop Making Sense. The newly remastered cinematic classic pairs with Harrison’s behind-the-scenes insights to chronicle the new wave outfit’s groundbreaking concert at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

FRIDAY 25

Eastbound and Down Bay Area author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason arrives at Shelburne Town Hall for a soldout discussion of his luminous new novel, Country People, in conversation with Vermont Public’s Mikaela Lefrak. The New York Times bestseller centers on a Silicon Valley family’s attempt at a “quiet” new life in rural Vermont among eccentric neighbors and bizarre — but possibly true — local lore. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

OPENS SATURDAY 26 COURTESY OF THEE PHOTO NINJA

Human Interest St. Johnsbury’s Catamount Arts Center is known for screening the kind of flicks you won’t find at the average multiplex. Case in point: National Theatre Live presents Martin Crimp’s razor-sharp take on Molière’s dark comedy The Misanthrope. Sandra Oh — sans scrubs — stars as a woman facing bitter backlash for speaking her mind in the workplace. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Critic’s Choices

to illustrate that portion of the narrative. It’s an effective organizing device. But also: “I wanted it to parallel what they are doing,” Alice revealed. “They are trying to tell the story of the show as well, in a pretty abstract way, through the relationships of these different pieces.” Dan Bolles and Chelsea Edgar edited Alice’s piece, her first cover story since she joined Seven Days more than two years ago. Chelsea called it “a huge pleasure. It was Alice’s idea to include vignettes within each section, which is an immensely tricky thing to pull off. But Alice writes about art so entertainingly, and with such Alice Dodge clarity — not something you can say about a lot of writing on art! — that it worked.” Dan, who edits Alice’s weekly reviews, chimed in: “I always come away feeling like I understand whatever pieces she’s trained her eye on, and I’m often charmed by some clever observation, playful description or broader context she’s introduced. These are the hallmarks of a great critic. “Helping her translate those skills into a deeply reported 6,000-word story with a knotty tangle of characters and themes,” he went on, “was a reminder of why this work can be so rewarding.” Please read it. Then go see the show. PAULA ROUTLY

How do you describe an abstract painting for someone who isn’t standing before it? A sculpture in space? An installation that transports the viewer to another time and place? A visual arts writer aims to help art aficionados and untrained enthusiasts alike better understand what they’re looking at or experiencing. Vermont has plenty of artists and authors, but rare is the individual who combines the two. Behold: Alice Dodge. Readers may not realize how lucky we are to have the Montpelier mother of two directing the visual art coverage in Seven Days. From the statewide list of exhibitions, which she compiles, Alice decides who and what we write about every week in the art section. Freelancers Amy Lilly and Seven Days cofounder Pamela Polston are regular contributors, but more often than not Alice does it herself. To my knowledge, Seven Days is the only media outlet in Vermont that employs a fulltime journalist with comparable credentials. In March Alice won the Critics Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association; more recently she was nominated for a prestigious national Rabkin Prize for visual arts writers. Alice’s expertise is on full display in this week’s cover story on the Art at the Kent exhibition in Calais — an annual group show that occupies every inch of a historic inn at a dusty crossroads in rural Vermont. Chosen by three brilliant curators who live within spitting distance of the venue, the variety of work and the way the pieces are arranged in the many rooms of the house distinguish the monthlong show. That it’s short-lived, like a fall flower, adds to its exceptionality. With her piece, titled “Art at a Crossroads,” Alice sought to explain what it takes to make a show this “resonant,” as she described it. Her reporting, which started in March, revealed how the three talented curators work together; their laborious process of choosing art; their relationship to the building, which they are trying to save; the pressure of success. Unexpectedly, the trio also wanted to talk about succession, Alice said, “so that became the story more. I’m hoping it starts a conversation.” In a nod to this year’s theme, “Throughlines,” each section of Alice’s story starts with a vivid bite-size description of some work in the show — carefully chosen

VERMONT HAS PLENTY OF ARTISTS AND AUTHORS,

BUT RARE IS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO COMBINES THE TWO.

Paula Routly P.S. Help us continue to publish the great culture writing of Alice, Dan, Chelsea and our other Seven Days staffers by becoming a Super Reader. If you like Seven Days and can help pay for it, become a Super Reader! Look for the “Donate” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your address and contact info to: SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164

Need more info? Want to give from a donor-advised fund or through a qualified charitable contribution? Contact Sarah Sieber: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

news

MORE INSIDE

MOOSE GETS DEATH PENALTY PAGE 16

EDUCATION

FREE BRIDGE — YOU HAUL IT

State Board of Education Chair Resigns Abruptly

PAGE 18

Roof Raids

Laborers in construction and roofing are being targeted as ICE detentions spike in Vermont B Y L U C Y T OM PKI NS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

ary Richards spent three years looking for someone to replace the leaking slate roof on her 160-year-old farmhouse in Cornwall. Every company she reached said it was overbooked or understaffed. Some just didn’t return her calls. Finally, in early August — after water spots and cracks began to spread across her dining room ceiling — a South Burlington company sent a crew of roofers to her rural Addison County home. Around noon on their second day of work, Richards peered out her window and noticed three SUVs with tinted windows parked out front. She rushed outside to find several U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in her yard. The roofers had 14

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

scattered. Two hid in the high branches of a maple tree beside her house; others fled across a nearby field. A crowd quickly formed of neighbors and passing cyclists, who tried to intervene. Richards yelled at the agents to show a warrant for coming onto her property. Without a word, they loaded two handcuffed roofers into a vehicle and drove off as Richards shouted after them: “You can’t just take people!” The agents had come and gone in less than 10 minutes. Amid a recent national surge, detentions by ICE have spiked in Vermont this year: 117 by the end of July, compared to 34 in all of 2025, according to federal data released by the Deportation Data Project at UC Berkeley and UCLA. Those figures

are an undercount of all immigration detentions, as they don’t include interior arrests by U.S. Border Patrol. Eightyfive percent of those detained by ICE in Vermont in 2026 had no criminal convictions, according to ICE data. Workers in Vermont’s roofing and construction industries are frequent targets. At least 30 have been detained at 13 worksite raids and traffic stops so far this year, according to a tally by farmworker advocacy group Migrant Justice. The detentions — and fear of them — have upended the lives of workers and crippled an industry that has become increasingly dependent on Latin American migrants to fix Vermont’s roofs and build its homes. ROOF RAIDS

» P.16

Jennifer Deck Samuelson

State Board of Education chair Jennifer Deck Samuelson has abruptly resigned, citing a constellation of personal reasons. Samuelson, a Manchester lawyer, has served on the board since 2020; her term was set to expire in February 2028. In comments to the board on September 16, Samuelson acknowledged that the decision was “unexpected.” “There’s nothing that happened. There’s nothing going on in my life, which, in a way, makes it all the more puzzling,” Samuelson said while holding back tears. “The only thing I can really say is … I give everything to what I’m doing, and I have given a lot of myself to this board for the last six years.” Her resignation, after four years as chair, comes amid the state’s push for an education transformation plan. Most notably, the board is responsible for working with the Agency of Education to craft a framework for how to evaluate school-district merger proposals. That work needs to be done soon, Education Secretary Zoie Saunders told the board last week, so that the guidance can be shared with merger committees, which are expected to begin meeting across the state next month. When committees finalize merger proposals next year, the board will decide whether to approve or reject them before local voters weigh in. Within the next year, the board must also finalize statewide high school graduation requirements, based on recommendations it has already received from the education agency. Samuelson indicated that the increase in board responsibilities factored into her departure. “This one year in particular is going to be extra busy on all fronts,” she said, “and it just seemed like a natural breaking point to step off.” Board vice chair Tammy Kolbe, a special-education policy expert, will serve as acting chair until the next board meeting in October. At that time, a special election will likely be held to select a new chair. ➆

SCREENSHOT

LUCY TOMPKINS

IMMIGRATION

Mary Richards outside her home in Cornwall

B Y A LI S O N NO VA K alison@sevendaysvt.com

Rural Reckoning

A grassroots group convinced the legislature to roll back land-use rules. Can it influence elections this fall? S T ORY & PHOTOS BY KE VIN MCCALLU M • kevin@sevendaysvt.com Neil Ryan speaking to Molly Gray

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as elections loom for statewide offices and the entire legislature, the fledgling movement is asking tough questions of existing and aspiring lawmakers alike and has the potential to influence what happens at the polls in November. “Rural Vermont Rising is probably one of the most impactful modern-day grassroots movements in Vermont,” Gray acknowledged to about a dozen people gathered at the group’s booth. Since the legislative session ended, the coalition has turned its attention to organizing local chapters in all 14 Vermont counties. It has pushed back on regional planning efforts it finds overly restrictive, critiqued conservation efforts that its members worry will erode the rural economy and grown its Facebook following to 18,000 strong. And the group has sought, through events such as the one at the fair, to make sure political candidates know it’s a force to be reckoned with in state politics. “This is a breakthrough moment for Rural Vermont Rising,” said Neil Ryan, a Corinth cattle farmer and writer who is a prominent volunteer with the group. Not everyone is sold. Rep. Theresa Wood (D-Waterbury) said the rhetoric on the group’s Facebook page could get “nasty”

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news Burlington Orders Euthanasia for Ex-Prosecutor’s Dog FILE: GREGORY J. LAMOUREUX

B Y A ARO N C ALVI N aaron@sevendaysvt.com

Diane Wheeler

The Burlington Animal Control Committee has ordered the euthanasia of Moose, a problem dog with a history of violence owned by former Franklin County prosecutor Diane Wheeler. The City of Burlington recommended the step at a hearing held last month. The committee, which includes members of the police commission and local animal experts, handed down its official order on Monday. “Moose’s long-standing pattern of aggression and reactivity presents an ongoing public safety risk that will not be abated until he is humanely euthanized,” the order said. Wheeler or her sister, Deborah Lessor, must immediately deliver Moose to one of two designated kennels as he awaits his fate. Then, the Burlington Police Department’s animal control unit will “facilitate Moose’s humane euthanasia” at the Humane Society of Chittenden County. Wheeler or Lessor will be required to cover the costs of the euthanasia and “fully cooperate,” according to the order, which specifically forbids them from “interfering with the means and methods” of the humane society. Neither Wheeler nor Lessor could be reached for comment on Monday. But the former deputy state’s attorney has already disputed the animal control committee’s authority over her or her hound. She told the panel at Moose’s hearing last month that she had moved out of Burlington. “This committee has no jurisdiction over Moose or me,” Wheeler said. In its order requiring Moose to be put down, the committee determined that, no matter where Wheeler claimed to be living, she and the dog had been seen in Burlington as recently as this month. The committee concluded that “this matter poses a live issue in Burlington regardless of where Moose is kept a majority of the time.” Wheeler worked as a deputy state’s attorney in Franklin County for 30 years but retired on Sunday. ➆

COURTESY PHOTOS

Roof Raids « P.14

CITY

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

“It was nearly impossible to get a roofer,” Richards said. “Then, when I do, ICE comes. It’s crazy.” Last Friday, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) visited five ICE detainees at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. In a video posted after the visit, Welch said he met three farmworkers, a truck driver and a roofer. None had been convicted of a crime, he said. “This is so wrong and so cruel,” Welch said in the video. “This mass roundup — that is just something that the Trump administration won’t stop — has to stop. These are good people that are here — working people, with families, making a contribution to our farms and to our community, to construction of the housing that we need.” The day before the raid in Cornwall, five members of a construction crew were detained near Londonderry while driving to a jobsite. A couple of weeks later, on August 24, two more workers were arrested leaving a construction site in Derby Line. On September 4, federal agents detained three roofers shortly after they arrived at a worksite in Morristown. The Morristown crew had been hired by Five Star Roofing, a contractor with offices in Shelburne and Plattsburgh, N.Y. In a lengthy Facebook post the day after the raid, the company set out to “address several misconceptions” about its hiring practices and workers, including “an assumption that Five Star seeks out undocumented workers as a source of ‘cheap labor.’” “That could not be further from the reality of our business or the roofing industry,” the company wrote. “Vermont has a serious workforce shortage, particularly in the skilled trades,” making it “extraordinarily difficult” for companies to find enough qualified roofers, the statement said. The shortage is so severe that Five Star recently went to Texas to recruit a crew willing to come to Vermont to work, the statement says. The company also disputed the idea that its Latino workers earn less, saying roofers typically make $300 to $400 a day, depending on their experience. Five Star Roofing did not respond to interview requests. Peter Bermeo Ronquillo, 32, was one of the five workers detained in Londonderry on August 7. He migrated from Ecuador in 2023 to seek asylum, he said, and came straight to Vermont to work as a roofer. He now works for a local subcontractor. ICE agents pulled over Bermeo Ronquillo while he was driving with his crew to a jobsite. He said he told the agents he had a pending asylum case with

Peter Bermeo Ronquillo

ALL OF US WHO WERE DETAINED

ARE JUST HERE TO WORK. P E TE R BE R ME O R O NQ UIL LO

a court hearing in 2027; they detained him anyway. “I entered through the Arizona border and registered,” he said in Spanish. “Obviously, it was legal because it was the same government that processed us.” He said the detentions felt unjust. “All of us who were detained are just here to work,” he said. “We aren’t hurting anyone.” All five workers have been released on bond following hearings before immigration judges. The Vermont Freedom Fund, a bail and bond fund for immigrants, covered their $40,000 in bail. The arrests have shone a light on the changing demographics of Vermont’s roofing industry, which is the latest sector to turn to migrant workers amid a labor shortage. For decades, dairy farms have relied on migrant workers from Mexico, many of them undocumented. But the feds have largely avoided raiding the farms where these workers live. Construction crews, meanwhile, have faced repeated raids and arrests, in part because of how exposed they are to passersby. That’s what led to the detentions in Cornwall. ICE agent Colton Riley was driving from a “target address” in Middlebury to another in Shoreham when he happened to pass Richards’ home around 11:15 a.m. on August 8, according to an

An ICE agent in Richards’ yard

incident report he wrote. He spotted roofers “covering their heads and faces with hoods and neck coverings,” which he found “suspicious.” Riley decided to run the registrations on the work vans. One was in the name of a person with a deportation order, he wrote. Another was registered to someone who he determined was “illegal”; Riley wrote that they were “under proceedings,” with a prior immigration court date in 2024 and “nothing further scheduled.” Riley called his supervisor, who sent more agents. They “surrounded the residence,” Riley wrote, and detained two of the nine workers, according to the report. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. After the agents left, someone called Migrant Justice, which helped connect

Monthly ICE detentions in Vermont rose sharply this spring The increase coincided with a nationwide immigration crackdown, which has pushed monthly ICE detentions to record highs.

Detentions

Individuals detained

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SOURCE: DEPORTATION DATA PROJECT CREATED BY: LUCY TOMPKINS

the detained workers with legal support. A GoFundMe launched by advocates in Addison County has raised $7,600 on their behalf. Both workers are from rural Ecuador, according to Maria Tixe, whose husband, Angel, and younger brother, Alex, were swept up in the raid. Tixe, who lives in Essex, said she migrated to the U.S. in 2024 to seek asylum, leaving behind a life of subsistence farming. Violence and threats in the troubled South American country had become widespread. She and her family moved to Vermont about a year ago, following work opportunities in the roofing industry. Tixe said her husband, Angel, has a pending asylum case. He was released on bail by an immigration judge after 15 days in detention. She is still fighting for her brother’s release. Alex is 30 years old with a wife and 18-month-old son, she said. “We aren’t criminals,” Tixe said in Spanish. “We came to work and to help our children get ahead.” Roofing companies often hire subcontractors who provide workers rather than employing them directly as their own staff. That allows the companies “to lower their costs and access workers who don’t have a legal right to work,

because both the pay and documentation go through the subcontractor,” said David Stoll, a professor of anthropology at Middlebury College who studies debt and migration. This system can help bring in muchneeded workers while insulating companies from some of the liability they might otherwise face, Stoll said. The company Richards hired for the Cornwall job used subcontractors. Brianna Valero Luna, general manager of the company’s South Burlington branch, said she doesn’t “go above and beyond” to check the immigration status of those workers. “I don’t ask the question, ‘Do you have your residency; do you have a visa?’” she said. “That’s not something legally I’m allowed to ask, for one. But for two, an opportunity is an opportunity for anybody who wants to change their lives.” “All my foremen are documented,” she added. “I pay the foreman — the owner of the business — and they pay their employees.” After the raid at Richards’ home, Valero Luna brought in another crew that same afternoon to finish the job. Neighbors shared pizzas and stood watch in case ICE returned. Some even climbed onto the roof to help the workers lay shingles. ➆

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The Vermont Craigslist “free stuff” page is full of treasures. Recent listings include a piano, a set of studded snow tires, and a male pig used for breeding who is described as “a gentleman to his ladies but gets the job done!” But one listing posted on Monday jumped out as particularly odd, not to mention difficult to cart away: Bridge No. 150, which stretches over the Winooski River between Burlington and the Onion City. “Historic Bridge Available,” the listing reads. Size/dimensions: 359 feet long. Condition: “Salvage.” Make/ Manufacturer: 1928. The Winooski River Bridge, one of the state’s most heavily traveled, is scheduled to be replaced in a major infrastructure project that will disrupt traffic, beginning next year, between the two Vermont cities. In a quirk of regulations for projects receiving Federal Highway Administration funds, the Vermont Agency of Transportation is required to advertise historic bridges for free before moving forward with demolition. “We used to advertise in hard copy papers,” said Judith Ehrlich, the agency’s historic preservation officer. “We thought we might hear more from people if we tried doing it on something like Craigslist.” The agency has been posting free bridges on Craigslist for a couple of years, Ehrlich said, but has yet to find any takers. So far, no one has raised their hand this time around, she said, aside from one message asking, “Can I move it tomorrow?” Ehrlich acknowledged that it’s a bit of a hard sell. The bridge itself is free, but the new owner would be responsible for relocating it and constructing new bridge abutments and piers at its new home. It’s too big to move in a single piece, so it would have to be broken up, she said. “The bridge we’re looking at now is awfully big,” Ehrlich said. “There’s a pretty finite number of areas where this could be used. But if somebody wanted it, it’s available.” The listing will remain active for 30 days, Ehrlich said. ➆

Rural Reckoning « P.15 at times. She also questioned whether all of the page’s followers were real. “I was not disparaging the group,” Wood told Seven Days. “I was just saying that like any large group ... there are ‘people’ who show up and join who may or may not actually be real people.” Detractors have pegged Rural Vermont Rising as an effort that pretends to be local but is really funded by an outside organization, a practice derisively referred to as astroturfing. Ryan said that claim stems from a “whisper campaign” aimed at discrediting the group. Rural Vermont Rising is a committed group of volunteers with some skills in writing and website design, he said, who are working hard to grow the organization to ensure that voices from rural Vermont are heard in Montpelier. “Nobody wants to be doing this,” Ryan said, “but when you get the bit between your teeth, what are you gonna do?” Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont Republican Party, said the group is already having an impact on races. Two longtime reps from rural Vermont, Jim Masland (D-Thetford) and John Bartholomew (D-Hartland), both voted for Act 181 and subsequently lost their primaries to newcomers. He predicted a similar fate for Rep. John O’Brien (D-Tunbridge) in the general election. “The question isn’t whether Rural Vermont Rising will have an impact. The question is, ‘How big will it be?’” Dame said. “Every Democrat in a rural district who voted with their party leadership to pass Act 181 and override the governor’s veto should be very concerned.” The group refers to itself as a citizen coalition. It has no centralized leadership, office or staff. It does not accept donations or contribute to political campaigns. Its regional chapters typically meet at potluck suppers in homes or community centers. A volunteer spent $4,000 of their own money to have T-shirts made and hopes to recoup the expense by selling them, Ryan said. Members are less interested in getting specific people elected than in building an organization that will hold elected officials accountable, explained John Kellogg, a facilitator for the Rural Vermont Rising group in Burke. Kellogg, who lives with his wife on 30 acres in Charleston, is on a steering committee trying to bring structure to the organization. The group’s goals include ensuring the people who work the land have a say in decisions about regulations, he said. Members feel strongly that the change they seek is going to take more than one legislative session to accomplish.

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“My sense is that the people most active in [Rural Vermont Rising] are in it for the long haul,” Kellogg said. “The state legislature has stacked the deck over 40 years, and that doesn’t go away in 10 months.” Many members weren’t appeased when the legislature repealed measures that would have made construction more difficult in sensitive areas and the “road rule” that sought tougher regulations for building long driveways, he said. Most want Act 181 repealed entirely, Kellogg said, because the parts that remain are still concerning. Updates to regional

THE QUESTION ISN’T WHETHER RURAL VERMONT RISING WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.

THE QUESTION IS, “HOW BIG WILL IT BE?” PAU L DAME

land-use plans required by the law appear designed to set the stage for further restrictions, he said. “The policy seems to be: The land cannot be healthy if there are people on it,” Kellogg said. Visitors to the Rural Vermont Rising booth at the Tunbridge fair tended to share that sentiment. Barbara Baumann, who lives in Randolph, said state goals to conserve 30 percent of land in Vermont by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050 represent a top-down, instead of collaborative, approach to conservation. “I believe that land is being stolen via regulations and spreadsheets and fees, because we cannot use guns anymore to do it,” Baumann said. Some members have complained that the group hasn’t been taken seriously by Vermont’s news media. Yet when a Seven Days reporter showed up last week to a meeting of the Washington County chapter at Hugo’s Bar & Grill in Montpelier, he was asked to leave.

“We’re not ready for prime time,” organizer Wendy Bridgewater said apologetically. On Friday Janoo and Gray submitted to individual Q&As moderated by Peacham content creator Morgan Gold at the group’s fair booth. Their incumbent Republican opponents, Gov. Phil Scott and Lt. Gov. John Rodgers, skipped the interview op and visited the booth on other days. Former Democratic/Progressive lieutenant governor David Zuckerman, who interviewed Janoo at the fair a day earlier in his role as radio host for WDEV, said it’s clear Rural Vermont Rising has tapped into significant concerns. The group gained more followers on its Facebook page in a few months than he was able to build in a nearly 30-year career in politics, he noted. “There is a real energy out there,” Zuckerman said. While the group’s anti-regulation messaging clearly leans conservative, rural Republicans, Democrats and Progressives share concerns about property rights and affordability, he said. The “conflicting winds” from rural residents this election cycle make it difficult to predict the impact Rural Vermont Rising might have on results, Zuckerman said, especially when national anti-Trump political trends are factored in. Some rural Vermonters clearly want less land-use regulation, which would generally lead them to support Gov. Scott, he noted. But many are also deeply skeptical about Scott’s push to close rural schools, which naturally aligns them with Janoo, his Democratic challenger, Zuckerman noted. Lachlan Francis, chair of the Vermont Democratic Party, acknowledged that Rural Vermont Rising has raised awareness about issues affecting less urban areas of the state and has influenced how candidates talk about them this year. “But they are an explicitly nonpartisan organization,” Francis said, “so it’s unclear exactly how that will sugar off in terms of partisan ramifications.” ➆

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Jury Convicts Eaton

Jurors rejected an insanity defense for Jason Eaton, who shot three Palestinian men. He could face life in prison. B Y CO L I N FL A ND ER S • colin@sevendaysvt.com

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

PAUL HEINTZ/BOSTON GLOBE

jury on Monday convicted Jason Eaton of attempted murder for shooting three Palestinian college students outside his Burlington apartment, rejecting his insanity defense. Eaton had confessed to the November 25, 2023, attack, which injured Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad and partially paralyzed Hisham Awartani. But Eaton’s attorneys contended that he was legally insane at the time and suffering from severe psychotic delusions. Jurors deliberated for just two hours before finding Eaton guilty of three counts of attempted murder. When sentenced, he’ll face the potential of life in prison. Eaton stood still as Judge John Pacht asked jurors one by one to affirm their verdict. The defendant did not noticeably react, aside from briefly locking eyes with his mother and aunt before he was escorted out of the courtroom. The two victims in the courtroom on Monday — Awartani and Ali Ahmad — hugged family members and prosecutors before heading into a private room. Speaking to reporters afterward, Awartani’s mother, Elizabeth Price, expressed relief. “The verdict cannot undo what happened or erase the trauma our families still carry,” Price said. “But it affirms something fundamental: Jason Eaton is responsible for what he did.” Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, meanwhile, told reporters that she was grateful for the chance to get to know the victims, despite the tragic circumstances. “I’ve spent a lot of time with them,” she said. “I’m honored for the chance to bring them closure.” She added that she would meet with the families again before deciding the length of sentence she’ll seek. Eaton’s defense team declined to comment. The verdict capped a six-day trial during which jurors heard conflicting expert testimony about whether Eaton suffered from a severe mental illness that led to a break from reality. To claim insanity in Vermont, defendants must prove that they had a “mental disease or defect” that prevented them from understanding they were about to commit a crime.

CRIME Eaton has maintained that he shot the young men after receiving messages through FM radio and Bluetooth urging him to kill. According to testimony, he has claimed to believe that the three men intended to harm a Jewish family he’d been watching over in his neighborhood. In reality, the three young men were visiting Awartani’s grandmother over the Thanksgiving holiday. They told the court last week that a man matching Eaton’s description walked up to them and, without saying a word, opened fire. The shooting, just weeks after Hamas’ attack on Israel, attracted worldwide attention. The defense’s expert witness, Dr. Fabian Saleh, testified that Eaton had an untreated psychotic disorder that left him unable to distinguish right from wrong. “He was operating under the delusional belief that this was a legal, authorized action,” Saleh said last week. “He didn’t consider his actions to be criminal.” Prosecutors disputed Saleh’s conclusions. They said Eaton has never been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, showed no symptoms of psychosis and did not take any medication during his nearly three years in prison awaiting trial. And while prosecutors fell short of offering a motive for the shooting, they argued that Eaton carried it out at a time when his life was falling apart.

Jason Eaton conferring with his lawyer

He had recently been fired from a finance company because he accused its leaders of stealing, which put him at risk of losing his apartment, testimony showed. He was also smoking cannabis daily, prosecutors said, suggesting that may have may led to paranoid thoughts. Eaton, who repeatedly criticized his attorneys when the jury wasn’t in the room, did not take the stand. But a conversation he had with them five days after the shooting proved to be one of the most important pieces of evidence, held up by both sides as proof of their arguments. Defense attorneys played pieces of the recording aloud for jurors, contending that the conversation clearly showed that Eaton had lost his grip on reality. Eaton could be heard spooling out a hard-tofollow narrative describing how the radio messages — from the Central Intelligence Agency, God and even his own ancestors — kept urging him to act. But the recordings also captured Eaton displaying a sense of self-awareness that prosecutors called highly unusual for someone who harbors serious delusions. “I was either talking to my ancestors and the divine council or talking to an intelligence agency using an incredible AI that could come through my FM radio, through my Bluetooth headset, through my phone — or I’ve had this incredible psychotic break,” Eaton said in the recording.

“I’m still confused,” Eaton added. “I still don’t know the answer. Were they innocent victims? Were they planning an attack? [Did I] somehow thwart something?” A psychiatrist who testified on behalf of the prosecution, Dr. Jhilam Biswas, told jurors that people with serious delusions rarely have such insight into what they’re experiencing. George, the prosecutor, also urged jurors to consider portions of Eaton’s November 2023 conversation that hadn’t been played aloud in court. Reading from a transcript, she quoted Eaton suggesting that the shooting might not have happened had Awartani’s grandmother notified him that the three young men would be walking through his neighborhood “dressed up like terrorists.” “If grandma had said to them, ‘Maybe now is not a great time to wear the thing on their head,’” Eaton said, according to George. The night of the shooting, two of the three men were wearing traditional Palestinian headscarves known as keffiyehs. During the taped conversation, Eaton also mentioned the stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas and how Hamas had not released the Israeli hostages it had taken weeks before, on October 7. “March through Ukraine with a Russian flag right now, you bet your day wouldn’t go well,” he said, according to George. The victims and their families have maintained that the men were targeted because they are Palestinian. Authorities initially suggested that the shooting may constitute a hate crime but were unable to find evidence that would prove Eaton harbored anti-Palestinian views. It was not until Eaton agreed to raise an insanity defense this summer — at the eleventh hour, mere weeks before his trial was originally scheduled — that his defense team entered the November 30, 2023, conversation into discovery. Awartani’s mother, Price, said on Monday that there should no longer be any doubt about Eaton’s motive. “We heard it, in his own words,” she said. “This was a hate crime. We have said so from the beginning. The law never made him answer for it. But we know what he did.” ➆

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

people feel comfortable, welcome and loved. She was also one of the most loyal people you could ever know. If someone she loved experienced a loss or a difficult time, Jan was there. She checked in, she listened, and she stayed. She would drop whatever she was doing to help another person. Service to others was simply part of who she was. Jan was famous for the beautiful cards she sent to

friends and family. She never simply signed her name. She always added her own loving, personal thoughts, turning an ordinary card into something that became a keepsake. Fitness was another central part of Jan’s life. She owned and operated the Northern Lights Nautilus, operated Racquet’s Edge for more than 35 years, worked at the YMCA and then went on to run Synergy Fitness. She loved being active and embraced walks, racquetball, tennis, golf, cycling and strength training. She brought the same dedication and energy to her work that she brought to everything else in her life. Although Jan was instrumental in the success of the businesses she ran, she was remarkably humble. She rarely took credit for herself and was much more likely to praise the people around her. She had a gift for making others feel that their contributions mattered. Through all this, Jan found time to volunteer

and singing with his guitar. His work with CLiF (Children’s Literacy Foundation) brought him to schools all over the Northeast. David served on the board of Lyndonville’s Cobleigh Library for 10 years. His love of sports was lifelong, beginning with games of stickball in Queens. His own sandlot career was highlighted by his time playing softball for the Burke Hollow Athletic Club. He took up different sports over the years, including cycling, cross-country skiing, tennis and running. David and Penny lived a

joyful life together, full of music, dancing, listening and laughing. He cherished his relationship with each of his four grandchildren, playing sports and make-believe with them, writing them stories, and singing them songs. A vocal member of the local Indivisible group, David fought injustice and worked to protect our democracy. A founding member of the Whistle Pig Riot Brass Band, he sang and played music in support of those who need protection. He always showed up for a friend, neighbor or family member in need of a move, a bed or a song. You could always tell a David Martin job — solid, thoughtful, fastened tightly, often with a whimsical flourish. David is survived by his wife, Penny Patch; children, Seth Williams and Lizzie Martin; brother, Ben Martin; and grandchildren, Luna and Jude Williams, and Winslow and Graham Porter. There is so much more family he loved as friends and friends he loved as family.

Janice Marie Riordan JANUARY 25, 1956SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Jan Riordan, beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt and friend, passed away at home from natural causes on September 14, 2026, at the age of 70. Jan’s passion for life was filled with an extraordinary amount of love — for her family, her friends, her dogs and the many people whose lives she touched. She gave that love freely and without reservation. Perhaps the greatest love of her life was her son, Matthew. Adopting Matthew changed Jan’s life, and she considered him the greatest gift she had ever received. Her love for him was deep, fierce and unconditional. There was always laughter when Jan was in the room. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a way of making

David R. Martin OCTOBER 5, 1944SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 LYNDONVILLE, VT.

David R. Martin, born in New York on October 5, 1944, died in Lyndonville, Vt. on September 12, 2026, at home surrounded by family. He thought he was going to be a scientist, but life took him in unexpected directions. He met Penny Patch, the love of his life, and discovered that he was drawn to the forests of Vermont. Everything David came across might be made into art, be they broken down tractor parts, copper telephone wire or discarded wood. Summer vacations in Maine saw him carting back rocks, shells and driftwood. He saw spirits in these objects, using them to construct his many creatures. David was a teacher in St. Johnsbury for over 20 years, then began his career as a children’s book author in the 1990s. He often performed for local kids, telling his stories, juggling

with many organizations, most recently the Jennifer Riordan Foundation with the nationwide Spark Kindness Tour. Jan also helped with outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association and served on the board for Martha’s Barn and Vermont Cancer Support Network. Jan was a lifelong and devoted Red Sox fan. She loved going to Opening Day and cheering for her team, and being a Red Sox fan was one of those enduring passions that brought her joy year after year. Her mother, Betty, was her best friend, and the two shared an exceptionally close bond. Jan’s love of family was evident throughout her life. When her grandmother became ill and could no longer live alone, Jan cared for her and made sure she was not alone. She also adored her two brothers, Jerry and Mike. She and Jerry shared a lifetime of memories starting in Long Island, N.Y., and later when they moved to Essex Junction, Vt. Mike was born when Jan was 16, and she

helped their parents raise him. Their relationship grew into an especially close and loving one that remained throughout their lives. Jan loved her dogs, Blackie, Duke, Spencer, Jetson, Aspen and Kobe. She also had a remarkable ability to make friends wherever she went. To Jan, it seemed, everyone was a friend. She remained deeply loyal to the group of friends she made in high school and stayed in touch with them throughout her life. Jan is survived by her beloved son, Matthew; brothers, Jerry (Marianne) and Mike; nieces, Sara (Alex and Tanner Putnam) and Averie; and nephews, Joshua, Todd (Kelly Macnee, Bode and Graham), and Kevin. She was predeceased by her parents, Betty and Leroy Riordan; grandparents Gertrude and Joe Hickey, and Helen and Daniel Riordan; and her beloved sister-in-law Jennifer. Jan’s greatest gift was not any one accomplishment. It was the way she made people feel. She made people feel remembered. She made them

Louis Wilson

DECEMBER 6, 1933-SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 SHELBURNE, VT. Louis Wilson, known to most as Lou, passed away on September 2, 2026, at Wake Robin in Shelburne, Vt., with his wife, Betty, by his side. Born on December 6, 1933, to Lyman Lashon and Elizabeth Leech, Lou took the Wilson name following his mother’s remarriage to Millard Wilson. Lou grew up in Maine and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1952, where he played basketball. That year, he married his high school sweetheart, Constance “Connie” Merrill. They raised two children, Alan and Sharon, in Ellsworth, Maine. Lou spent 46 years managing Merrill Furniture Company, helping develop the family business into a company known throughout New England. He proudly served 11 years in the Army National Guard and was active in civic, fraternal and community organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Boys’ Club, YMCA, Masons, Shriners and Eastern Star. Following Connie’s death in 1987, Lou

feel supported. She made them laugh. And she made them feel loved. Her absence will leave an enormous space in the lives of the many people who were fortunate enough to know her. But the love she gave so generously will remain — in Matthew, in her family and in all of us who were lucky enough to call her our friend. Visiting hours will be held on October 2, 2026, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Corbin & Palmer, 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction, VT. A private burial for the family will be held in the afternoon. To honor Jan’s laughter, smile and fond memories, a celebration of life will be held on October 4, 2026, 1 p.m., at the Catamount Country Club, 1400 Mountain View Rd., Williston, VT. Jan was active in supporting the Parkinson’s community, and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, (give.michaeljfox.org/ campaign/831853/donate). Jan will be deeply missed and forever loved.

married Elizabeth “Betty” Boynton in 1989. Throughout their life together, Betty and Lou enjoyed building community wherever they went — from RV travels and camper rallies to visits with family and friends and active membership and volunteer service at the United Church of Underhill and Charlotte Congregational Church, both in Vermont. In 2022, they moved to Wake Robin Senior Community in Shelburne, Vt., where they enjoyed fulfilling relationships in this loving community until Lou’s passing. Lou is survived by Betty; his children, Alan Wilson and wife Barbara, and Sharon Malcolm and husband Ralph; stepchildren, Janyce, David, Jim and Andrew Boynton, and their families; sister, Linda Coffman; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family. A service of remembrance will be held on October 25, 2026, 2 p.m., at Charlotte Congregational Church in Charlotte, Vt., with a reception following. A memorial gathering will be held on November 7, 2026, in Ellsworth, Maine. SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Judith Beatrice Bailey OCTOBER 22, 1940SEPTEMBER 7, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

Judith Beatrice Bailey, 85, of Burlington, Vt., passed away quietly at home on September 7, 2026, with Mare and “Pinky” at her side. Jude was born at Bishop DeGoesbriand in Burlington on October 22, 1940, to Thomas Fred Bailey and Beatrice Grow Bailey. She attended Essex Junction schools, graduating high school in 1958, and then went on to attend college courses through her military career. Employment included working at Fanny Allen Hospital as a lab technician and then as an EMT with

Richmond Rescue. In recent years, her rescues were of the cat and squirrel kind. Jude’s proudest accomplishment was serving in the U.S. Air National Guard for 25 years, including active duty during Desert Storm. Jude was most proud of retiring as

Dennis LaTulippe

FEBRUARY 13, 1956-SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 OCALA, FLA. Dennis grew up in the Old North End of Burlington, Vt. He attended Burlington High School, where he played baseball, which he also did while representing Vermont at the Burlington International Games. After graduating in 1974, he served in the U.S. Army at Fort Polk in Louisiana before returning to resume employment at the Burlington Free Press, where he worked as a printer, until his retirement in 2011. In 1979, he married Wendy Duba. They had two sons: William and Timothy. He passed his appreciation of baseball to them, volunteering to coach teams and teaching them (with some success) how to hit. He also took the boys on bicycle rides and the family on beach visits. Dennis and Wendy divorced in 2005, and Dennis married Debbie LaTulippe (née Degree) a year later. They relocated to New Port Richey, Fla., in 2012, where Dennis enjoyed creating stained-glass pieces in his retirement. Dennis passed peacefully on September 9, 2026, after dealing with multiple medical issues. In addition to the aforementioned, he is survived by Timothy’s family: his daughter-in-law, Ilhem, and his granddaughter. He is also survived by his sisters, Michelle and Wendy; nephews, Joseph and Daniel; and stepchildren, Steven, Emily and Michelle. He was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Virginia.

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

a senior master sergeant, as not many women made it to this rank. If you ever wondered why Jude only wore blue, painted her walls blue and drove a blue car ... now you know why: the U.S. Air Force! Jude loved her God and her church. She loved to sing and was in the church choir and the Champlain Echoes. She was an incredible poet and was chosen as the prayer captain for her church, writing the most beautiful prayers. She was a Stephen’s minister and helped others struggle through life’s obstacles. She was an avid bowler, a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, photographer ... and much more. She may have been quiet on the outside, but she was a fierce and bold woman. Judith was preceded in

death by her parents, Thomas Fred Bailey and Beatrice Grow Bailey; sisters Gloria Davis, Janice Bailey, Joyce Bailey (Jude’s twin) and Cheryl Antonevich; brothers-in-law Robert C. Jones and Don Antonevich; and great-nephew, Steve Jones. Judith is survived by her best and crazy friend of 40-plus years, Mary Perry; sister Janet Jean Jones; brother, Thomas Cady Bailey (Patricia) (Jim Farrington and Jodi Lane) (Emma and Henry Farrington); Karen and Jim McAbee (Kailah and Leah Kruger); and brotherin-law Richard Davis. Her nieces and nephews include Amy Forde (son Aidan), Paula Antonevich, Heidi Wolne (daughter Chloe), James Robert Jones (Marilee)

(Chiara and Sam), and Mark William Jones (Carol Ann) and children (William Jones, Mary Ritchie [David], Caden, Maki, Colin, Zoey and Ellie). Judith’s family would like to thank Dr. Melissa Brandes, Dr. Cheung Wong, Dr. Elise Everett and all the nurses at the University of Vermont Medical Center, including hospice workers Haley, Chelsea, Ezra, Mara and others who came to Jude’s aid. A special thanks to Pastor Kerry Cameron and First United Methodist Church and its members. To all those friends and families who showed up for visits with food, cards, hugs, support, a laugh or cry: We can’t say thank you enough. You helped us get through the most difficult time of

our lives. If Jude were here, she might say, “Next time you visit, please bring nuts, because Mare might forget to feed my furry friends!” Funeral services are provided by Corbin and Palmer and will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11 a.m., at First United Methodist Church, 21 Buell St., Burlington, VT, with burial to follow in Fair View Cemetery in Essex Junction. For those who wish to come by Zoom: Please call the First UMC office at 802-862-1151 and request a Zoom link. Gifts in Jude’s memory may be made to First United Methodist Church, 21 Buell St., Burlington, VT 05401; or to Petit Brook Veterinary Clinic, 5866 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446.

peace and comfort in the teachings of the Bible. She had many friends, or brothers and sisters, in all congregations she attended, most recently the congregation of Greenville, Ga. She loved gardening, having been raised on a farm, and was known to have a green thumb. You would not be able to walk into her home without being offered a home-cooked meal. She delighted in preparing meals and desserts for family and guests. With support from her nearby son, Eric, Patricia lived independently

until she was hospitalized in September. Her appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation, her home-cooked meals and warm apple pies, her willingness to listen and help those in need, and her laughter and her love for others will be deeply missed and never forgotten. Patricia is survived by her children and their spouses, Gary and Carolyn Gordon, Eric and Deborah Camper, Rick Camper, and Pamela and Thomas Isham; 14 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents; her siblings, Alfred (DeGraff), Helen (DeGraff), Doris (DeGraff), Mildred Bove, Irene Emmons, Richard Sweet, Erwin Sweet, Earl Sweet and Kathleen Guyette; her children Douglas Camper and Norman Gordon; and her husband, Wayne Camper. A memorial service will take place on September 26, 2026, 2 p.m., at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Greenville, Ga.

Patricia A. (Sweet) Camper FEBRUARY 5, 1937SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

With great sadness, we announce that Patricia A. (Sweet) Camper, 89, of Burlington, Vt., passed away on September 8, 2026, from complications following surgery, surrounded by close family and supported by the love and prayers of family and friends. Born on February 5, 1937, Patricia grew up in Monkton Ridge, Vt., with her parents, Theodore and Isabel (Devoid) Sweet, and nine siblings. She was the last surviving sibling, following the death of her younger sister, Kathleen Guyette, in 2022. She attended Burlington High School, raised her family in Vermont and moved to Orlando, Fla., in 1978. Patricia worked for many years as a nurse’s assistant, passionate about caring for others, especially during the most challenging times of their lives.

In July 1962, she married her husband, Wayne Camper, in Burlington, Vt. Together, they raised six children: Norman Gordon, Gary Gordon, Eric Camper, Douglas Camper, Rick Camper and their only daughter, Pam Isham. They later retired to Winter Haven, Fla. After her husband’s death, Patricia moved to Georgia in 2022 to be closer to family, beginning the final chapter of her life. Patricia became a Jehovah’s Witness in 1975 and often talked to others about her belief in Jehovah, finding

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Kirk Laughlin Bosworth

AUGUST 26, 1932SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 WESTFORD, VT. Kirk died peacefully in his sleep at home with family next to him. He will be missed by his children, Terry, Kevin and Martha Bosworth; sister Gael Stein; grandson, Adam Bosworth, wife Kristina, and their sons, Kilian, Ivar, Stellan, and Ronan; and granddaughter, Laura Treichler, husband John, and their daughter, Peyton, and son, Tyler. Numerous nephews and nieces will remember him always. Kirk’s wife of 60 years died before him, in 2017. Sisters Patricia Bell and Polly Whitcomb McEwing also predeceased him. His parents were Bernard “Bun” Bosworth and Pauline Sullivan Bosworth. Kirk’s early childhood was spent in Bristol, Vt., which remained a place close to his heart. In the late 1930s, the

family moved to Burlington, Vt., where Kirk began school at Ira Allen Grade School. While Bun was serving in the South Pacific during World War II, Pauline packed up the family and moved to St. Johns, Fla., and later drove across the country to Dinuba, Calif. When Bun returned after the war, the family drove back to Vermont. Kirk attended Burlington High School, where he ran track and became captain of the football team. He went on to complete a BA

William Earl Butterfield

JANUARY 12, 1936-SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 KENNEBUNK, MAINE William Earl Butterfield, 90, of Kennebunk, Maine, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on September 17, 2026. Bill was born in Danforth, Maine, in 1936. He spent his younger years in Gorham. At age 10 he and his family moved to Kennebago, where his family maintained and operated the power plant that supplied power to the town of Rangeley. He went to the Rangeley schools and then went on to high school at Erskine Academy Boarding School, where he played basketball. He went on to become its star player and Regional Foul Shooting Champion, nicknamed “Nimble Bill Butterfield.” Bill graduated from Maine Vocational Technical Institute, at the top of his class, with a degree in electrical engineering and went to work for IBM, where he had a very successful 32-year career. He met Helene Berube, the love of his life, while he was home from college one summer. She was working and boarding at one of the Rangeley resorts. The attraction was instant; two years later they married. They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in May. They had four children and raised them in

at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1955. Having participated in the college Navy ROTC, Kirk joined the U.S. Navy and went to flight training school in Pensacola, Fla. He went on to serve as a pilot and squadron commander, achieving the rank of lieutenant. In 1956, while on leave with a training buddy in Brownsville, Texas, he met and married Jean McClelland, who was visiting from Omaha, Neb. He resigned his commission in

Vermont, spending many happy years camping, skiing at Smuggler’s Notch, and many summer vacations with extended family and friends. Bill loved music. He had a beautiful voice and played a mean guitar. He loved playing for the church, his family and anyone who requested it. He and his best friends and brothers-in-law, John Laverty and Gordon Richardson, would often play together until the wee hours. After retiring, Bill and Helene moved to Arundel and later Kennebunk, where Bill was very active with the Knights of Columbus. He was the financial secretary for many years and always took part in all the various K of C activities. Family was the most important thing for Bill, and he would often quiz his children, asking “What’s the most important thing in the whole wide world?” To which they would all shout, “FAMILY!” Bill leaves behind his loving wife, Helene; daughter Denise O’Donovan and husband Tom; son Marshall Butterfield and wife Donna; daughter Michelle English and husband Mike; and daughter-in-law Diane Butterfield and husband Don Penny. He is predeceased by his son Michael Butterfield and his two sisters, Norma and Christine. Bill had nine grandchildren, Meghan, Thomas, Morgan, Luke, Crystal, Brandon, Ashley, Sarah and Kevin; and eight great-grandchildren.

1964, and the family moved to Vermont and into the family home on Colchester Avenue in Burlington. Kirk began a 35-year career as an English teacher at Essex Junction High School. He developed a curriculum including the study of Shakespeare’s plays, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and English and American poetry. During the first summer breaks, he took courses at the University of Vermont and earned a master’s degree. For several summers he taught English as a second language at Saint Michael’s College. Kirk loved outdoor activities with his children, nephews and nieces, and even the neighborhood kids. In the winter he built snow forts, flooded a skating rink and took them skiing. He and his brother-inlaw Ed Whitcomb rigged a rope tow on a slope at the Essex Farm, providing riotous fun for the cousins.

In the summer there were overnight hiking trips in the Green Mountains and in the Pemagewasset Wilderness, sailing adventures with brother-in-law Bill Bell from Cape Cod to Schoodic Point, and canoe voyages on the Allagash. Kirk was an enthusiastic and accomplished downhill skier. For several winter seasons he took on a weekend maintenance job at Bolton Valley Resort to provide his children and himself with season’s ski passes. He served as a member of the National Ski Patrol at Smuggler’s Notch Resort, always making sure Terry, Kevin and Martha could ski as often as they wanted to. Kirk kept on skiing regularly up to the age of 89. In retirement Kirk joined Kevin in volunteering as a coach in the Vermont Special Olympics. He accompanied Jean delivering Meals on Wheels and continued with

Basha Miles

JULY 14, 1943-SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 BRISTOL, VT. On September 12, 2026, our dearest Basha took flight from this earthly world to soar with the sandhill cranes. Barbara Sherwin Miles was born to Rufus E. Miles and Nelle P. Miles on July 14, 1943. She spent her first several years in Chevy Chase, Md. Basha was a true artist and a scholar with a rich academic history. She graduated from Earlham College in 1965 with a BA degree in English literature. She then attended the University of Chicago, where she earned an MA. She studied Jungian psychology, wrote countless poems, and dove deeply into understanding the human connection to spirit and the natural world. In 1967, Basha began working at Spring Lake Ranch in Shrewsbury, Vt., where she discovered her love for therapeutic work with children. Her truest passion and life’s work was with Deaf/ Blind children and their families and teachers. Basha received a second master’s degree from the Perkins Institute for the Blind, where she and her colleague cowrote the book Remarkable Conversations: A Guide to Developing Meaningful Communication With Children and Young Adults Who Are Deaf/Blind. She traveled the world consulting and sharing her knowledge of reaching, communicating with, and teaching Deaf/Blind children and young adults. In the 1990s, Basha found a beloved

Terry until a week before his death. He spent many solitary hours exploring the rivers and lakes of northern Vermont in his kayak. He enjoyed fly-fishing — not to catch fish but for the pleasure of casting flies and spotting trout. Kirk had a soft spot for all animals, particularly the family dogs and cats, from the legendary John of his childhood to Martha’s dog John, who went on sailing trips. Later dogs Ace and then Otis accompanied Kirk everywhere he went. His last night was spent with a cat sleeping on the foot of his bed. Kirk will be remembered for his irreverent sense of humor, wordplay and wide-ranging knowledge. Stargazing, Greek mythology, history, the natural world — his children counted on Kirk to know everything. A celebration of life for Kirk and Jean will take place on October 25, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Essex Resort, Essex, Vt.

community in Middletown Springs and built herself a house on the land at Rocks and Trees Community. Like her life, in many ways her home was a piece of art and a prayer, always brimming with beautiful crafts, poetry and found objects. In the early 2000s, she was called to work with the Remembrance Community based in Lincoln, Vt., where she met her beloved goddaughter, Carrie Doggett. She moved to Bristol, Vt., for the final two decades of her life, where she could often be spotted taking slow, contemplative walks around the village with her fluffy dog, Bella. She had a keen eye for four-leaf clovers and often walked with her eyes to the ground. Basha was an extraordinarily gifted person: a potter, an artist, a poet, a prolific writer and an interpreter for the deaf with her fluent sign language. She gifted us with her gorgeous ceramics, her seasonal poems, her artworks, her love of animals, and memories of her generous and inquisitive nature. She had a calm and kind way and a distinct giggle. She helped found the Mountain River Sangha in Bristol several years ago, and exploring Buddhist practices with that devoted circle of friends meant the world to her. Basha is survived by her sister, Mary M. Patten of St. George, Maine; nieces, Jessica Hartley and Molly Patten, and their families; many Miles and Herbert cousins, whom she loved dearly; her goddaughter, Carrie, in Massachusetts; and numerous friends and colleagues all over the world. A green burial, requested by Basha, has been arranged at the Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury, Vt. SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES David Wimett

MAY 15, 1959-SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 BRANDON, VT. David Wimett’s last days were filled with family, snuggles with his grandkids, bright blue skies, starry nights, funny stories, hunting anecdotes and tearful goodbyes. His departure from this life on September 16, 2026, was just as he lived in it — tranquil, steadfastly brave and filled with unconditional love. David (or Dave, as many of you know him) was raised in Bristol, Vt., son of Dottie Sain and Bud Wimett, and a proud son of his native state. He grew up hunting and fishing in the shadow of Elephant Mountain and knew every nook and cranny of the fields, rivers and forests that adorned his beloved landscape. He equally adored and tormented his three younger siblings, Wendy, Stacey and Brian; and stepbrothers, Rick, Kevin and Kyle. His mischievous smile and expressive green eyes won the hearts of his school peers, and he

seemed to have a friendship with just about everyone in Addison County. At 16, David met his soulmate, Beth, and they walked side by side through thick and thin ever since — including the difficult periods of being apart during his deployments as a U.S. Navy antisubmarine warfare operator and rescue wet swimmer early in their marriage. The home they created together in Brandon was a haven — a handmade sanctuary that became the gathering place for so many. Together they created a life of patience, tenacity, growth, abundance and, above all else — love. Their devotion to one another was at the heart of it all. They grew luscious gardens and cooked spectacular food. There was always music playing, someone visiting, some disastrous situation being resolved and ALWAYS so much joy. David was an incredible father to his four children, Jake, Jess, Dan and Ben. As a family they overcame difficulties and embraced successes

with trademark authenticity and candor, and his children and their spouses, Mindi and Jessica, are living tributes to his dedication. Simply put, they all would do anything to honor their beloved dad. David kept his lawn tidy and his woodpile stacked neatly. He always had hard candy in his pockets and honey in his tea. His career as a car salesman singlehandedly changed thousands of people’s stigmas against the trade. He was unfailingly fair, oftentimes stacking the deck against himself. Many of you reading this know this firsthand. Wimett Trading Company stickers adorn many of your vehicles, a club of people who came to Dave’s little dealership in Leicester knowing you’d be treated as a friend. As a grandfather, David truly came alive. His biological brood included Isaac, Amaya, Sadie and Jacob Benjamin, but he extended those big Paaka/Papa arms around so many others. His children and grandchildren happily shared him with so many. The boundlessness of his spirit and the capacity of his heart were big enough to hold everyone in a way that made each one of us feel special and safe. Dave loved sunrises over frosty fields and starting a wood fire on

Bradley Charles Keith MARCH 15, 1966-SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 GEORGIA, VT.

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Bradley Charles Keith, 60, of Georgia, Vt., passed away at the University of Vermont Medical Center on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a short illness. Bradley was born in Burlington, Vt., the son of Patricia and LeRoy Keith, and grew up in Jericho, Vt. He graduated from Mount Mansfield Union High School and New Hampshire Technical College. Later in life, he made a career change and earned his LNA license. Brad worked first as a machinist and later as a nurse. He also served as a member of the Vermont National Guard. Brad had an independent spirit and was someone who was much more comfortable offering a hand to others than accepting one himself. He enjoyed the outdoors, animals, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking and following basketball — offering plenty of suggestions to the referees along the way. He was a skilled carpenter

a cold morning. He loved hunting with his boys and Josh (who was always more than a nephew) and going to deer camp. He was the best snuggler around, always putting a grandkid to sleep with the steadiness of his heartbeat. He always sang along to music and never got the words right. He loved grilling meat and making sauces, picking bouquets for Beth, making lists on yellow paper, holding hands with his wife, the perfect cast, vacations in Eleuthera, a welldeserved drink, and a celebration of any kind. David’s battle with ALS was long, frustrating, frightening and tragic. But this, too, he met with his trademark grace and equanimity. As Robert Frost wrote, “The best way out is always through.” Not once did he feel bad for himself. With Beth unwaveringly by his side, he faced this disease with his head held high and his spirit unbroken. There will be a celebration of David’s life on a date yet to be determined. But for now, as we enter his favorite season in his most beloved of places, we ask that you all think of your friend Dave with a smile in your heart, remembering his voice saying one of his perfectly timed Vermontisms … “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

who took pride in a job well done, and he loved a good practical joke. Brad especially enjoyed the years he spent on Georgia Shore. Brad’s journey through life was not always an easy one, and at times those struggles affected his relationships with others. Through it all, he remained someone who believed in God and believed things happen for a reason. He spent much of his life searching for those reasons. His family finds comfort in believing that Brad is finally at a well-deserved peace. Brad is survived by his brother, Scott Keith of Essex, Vt.; daughters, Chandra Labounty (Matt) of Starksboro, Vt., and Cheri Keith of Essex; and grandsons, Tucker, Jordan and Hunter. Brad was preceded in death by his parents, Patricia and LeRoy Keith. Brad’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at the UVM Medical staff for their care and compassion. A graveside service was held at the Underhill Flats Cemetery.

IN MEMORIAM

Sara Packard 1954-2026

A memorial gathering celebrating the life and spirit of Sara Packard will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, 10 a.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Burlington, Vt. A reception will immediately follow the service.

Joel Dubé 1952-2026

A Celebration of the Life and Photography of Joel Dubé will be held at the Vermont National Country Club, 1227 Dorset St., South Burlington, on October 4, 2026, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., with toasts at 4:30 p.m. His photographs will be on display for all to enjoy.

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Paul Edward Wamsganz

Following graduation, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Navy instead of waiting to be drafted, as it was the era of the war in Vietnam. Paul credited the Navy for teaching him lifelong skills that set the framework for his future career in drafting and creative design. While traveling the world on the USS Orion, Paul was able to pursue his love for photography and took hundreds of stunning photographs, of which he was extremely proud. In 1970, Paul was honorably discharged from the Navy as a Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class (PH3). He went on to attend Paul Smith’s College, graduating in 1973 with a degree in forestry management. While still in the Navy, Paul married Catherine Wood in Burlington, Vt., and they began a 39-year adventure together. She predeceased him in 2007, following a long battle with breast cancer. With his college degree in hand, Paul and Cathy packed up their VW station wagon and headed to Alaska with their young daughter, Marlo. In Alaska, Paul was

hired as a draftsman for the oil pipeline system. And in 1974, Paul and Cathy welcomed their son, Jared. As a family of four, they explored and experienced Alaska. Paul frequently spoke of salmon fishing and catching so many that he had to give them away. As an outdoorsman, Paul loved living in Alaska. But in 1975, the Wamsganz family returned to Vermont, settling in Essex Junction, to be closer to family. Paul mastered his skills in drafting and construction while working for a small construction company before opening his own business in 1981, Graphic Construction Management Services. In 1992, Paul transitioned to working for Champlain Oil Co. in South Burlington, Vt. There, he was the development, planning and construction manager for the ever-growing business until his retirement in 2011. During those years, Paul spent his leisure time boating Lake Champlain on the family pontoon boat and then a cabin cruiser, fondly named Whamy. For over 35 years, Paul was affectionately known as “the General” of his hunting camp, “Trails End,” on Owl Pond in Saranac Lake, N.Y. He treasured time there with friends and family, hunting, swimming, fishing and hiking through the lands he dubbed “forever wild.” As “the General,” Paul would stage all necessary supplies in his garage so that after work on Fridays he could swiftly depart for his beloved cabin. There he could often be found in the cabin, after quitting hunting early, preparing the best

food of any hunting camp in the Adirondacks. Dave, Bill, Jimmy, Matt and Jared will always remember the laughter, card games (7-27), meals and Paul’s “neverending soup.” In 2012, Paul married Cindy Taylor at a property they had purchased in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Together they shared the love of family, a strong work ethic and a love of the outdoors. In 2014, they built a yearround home on the Barton property, a Craftsman-style home that Paul designed himself. Paul, personally, oversaw construction and would be the first to drive to the supplier for any missed, forgotten or newly added item that was needed. The home was built in the center of 50 acres, and over the next seven years Paul and Cindy turned it into their dream hobby farm. In the early morning hours, Paul would have breakfast, “the best meal of the day” (although each meal was the best to Paul), and then head out to the barn with his beloved dog, Higgins, where he would make a list of what needed to be accomplished that day. There were always trails to clear, stone walls to repair and bridges to build. Their home was always open for friends and family to enjoy walking the trails, fourwheeling, target shooting at “Whamy’s Range,” digging out forts in the snowbanks in which to have hot chocolate and snacks with Lulu (Cindy), and, of course, great food and watching sunsets from the porch or around the bonfire. Paul even took up a

role helping to care for the goats (Calvin and Hobbs) and the guinea hens, going so far as to send Cindy photos, many often set on the front porch with the goats seated comfortably in the Adirondack chairs. Having learned the art of maple syrup production from his father and his younger brother, Matt, Paul tapped many sugar maples on the Barton property. As his production (and knowledge) grew, he enjoyed giving syrup away to family, friends and neighbors. All of his accomplishments with the “farm” that seemed like hard work to others were always fun to Paul and were a source of great pride. In 2020, Paul and Cindy purchased two acres on Little Averill Lake in Averill, Vt., where they started clearing the land and making plans for a small summer camp. In January 2021, as the result of routine lab work, Paul was diagnosed with liver cancer. Having never been sick, Paul was positive they had the wrong patient! Just over a year and many doctor’s visits later, on March 8, 2022, at 9 p.m., Paul walked into the operating room at Lahey Hospital and received the gift of a liver transplant. After the transplant, Paul and Cindy sold their dream home/farm in Barton and moved to Fremont, N.H., to be closer to medical care for Paul. Paul utilized each “good day” post-transplant to design and initiate the construction of a cabin at Little Averill. From summer 2023 to July 2026, Paul and Cindy spent the summer and fall months at their camp.

Paul was able to realize this last dream despite his deteriorating health. The lake was his place of true happiness. To know Paul was to love and respect him. Paul was continually inspired by the beauty of his surroundings and all the people in his life along the way. He was easily recognized by the yellowlined 8-by-10 pad he carried and the lists he made. There was always “just one more thing” to finish on his list, and this was true to his very last days. Paul lived a wonderful life and was, in every sense, one of the “good ones.” He leaves us all with the gift of the wonderful memories we will forever hold in our hearts. Paul is survived by his loving wife, Cindy Wamsganz; daughter, Marlo Wamsganz; son, Jared Wamsganz, and wife Nicole; Megan Taylor and husband Matt Andrus; Eli Taylor and wife Aimee; grandchildren, Hudson Wamsganz, Jacob Taylor, Dylan Taylor, Elouise Taylor, Gwen Andrus, Phoebe Andrus and Claira Andrus; sister, Jean Foley; brother, Matthew Wamsganz, and wife Karen; sisters-in-law Diane Wamsganz and Claudia Wamsganz; stepsister, Margaret Galloway, and husband Tom; Mary Beth Kreuzinger and husband Scott; stepbrother, Stephen Perry, and 19 nieces and nephews. A private family gathering will be held in Paul’s honor at a later date. In memory of Paul, spend time outdoors with those you love, then make a list and get things done!

High School in 1949, went on to Hamilton College and graduated from Penn Dental, University of Pennsylvania, in

1956. Shortly after graduation he joined the U.S. Navy and served from 1956 to 1958. Ben was united in marriage on July 12, 1958, in Norfolk, Va., with Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Burns. Ben was finishing his naval career on USS Pocono, the flagship for the 6th Fleet, and Betty was finishing school at William and Mary College (now Old Dominion University), Norfolk Division. They enjoyed lots of laughs and fun during their 68 years of marriage. He opened his dental practice, Bentley A. Merrick, DDS PA, in Chatham, N.J.,

which later became Chatham Dental Associates. He is survived by his wife, Betty; and their children and families: Susan Rose Merrick, wife of the late Dr. Bentley Atwood Howe Merrick, and their daughters, Dr. Katherine Merrick (Mitchell Joseph) and Jane (Alden) Merrick-Piper; Elizabeth J (“Jenny”) Merrick (Gerard) Vecchio and their daughters, Sabine Vecchio (Andrew) Baldwin and Mary A (“Lexy”) (Matthew Caraway — partner) Vecchio; and Charles Brooks (Kathleen) Merrick. He is also survived by Dr. Akihisa (Yasuko) Harada, our exchange student son; and

his niece and nephew, Jane (Robert) Miller and Davis (Jeannine) Cutting. Ben is predeceased by his son, Bentley A. H. Merrick, DMD; his sister, Marian, and her husband, Davis Cutting; and two nephews, Robert and Richard Cutting. Ben deeply admired his family. Giving time and devotion to his family was the most important thing to him. He enjoyed tennis, golf, bridge, platform tennis and anything competitive. He always made friends of all ages throughout his life. He also loved New York Yankees baseball.

Calling hours are on Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10 to 11 a.m., at Sundquist Funeral Home, with a short service following. A luncheon will follow. Donations can be made in his name to Friends of Lewis County Hospice, Inc., PO Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367, or to the LD Pankey Dental Foundation, Inc., One Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL 33149 (pankey.org/pankeyfoundation/donation-form; click “In honor of Bentley A. Merrick, DDS”). To share words of condolence, please visit sundquistfh.com.

SEPTEMBER 16, 1947AUGUST 31, 2026 FREMONT, N.H.

It is with tears in our eyes and love in our hearts that we announce the passing of Paul Edward Wamsganz (“Whamy”) on August 31, 2026, at his home in Fremont, N.H. Paul’s wish to remain in his home through his final days was realized by the help of amazing family members, lifelong friends and his hospice nurses. Born on September 16, 1947, to Vernon and Gertrude Wamsganz of Saranac Lake, N.Y., Paul often spoke of an idyllic childhood in Saranac Lake, when kids could hike up Baker Mountain with an iron frying pan and bacon, cook breakfast, and then spend the rest of the day fishing at a local lake or pond. The only rule: “Be back home before the street lights come on!” With the death of his mother when he was just 12 years old, those easy childhood days were fewer. When Paul was 15, his father remarried, and the family relocated to South Burlington, Vt. Moving, residing in a new community and starting a new school as a high school freshman presented many challenges. Paul’s resilience and outgoing personality, coupled with his love of sports, soon ingrained him as part of the South Burlington High School community, and he embraced those years. He continued to participate in reunions and gatherings of friends from high school throughout his lifetime.

Bentley A. Merrick, DDS

JULY 31, 1931SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 LOWVILLE, N.Y. Bentley A. Merrick, 95, passed peacefully late Friday afternoon, September 18, 2026, with his family by his side and under the care of Lewis County Hospice. Bentley Atwood Anson “Ben” Merrick was born on July 31, 1931, in Yonkers, N.Y., the son of the late Bentley Almerin Glead and Jane Clarissa (Atwood) Merrick. Raised in Millburn, N.J., he graduated from Millburn

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

“Inside Out” by James Payne

After 19 years and 20 shows, Art at the Kent in Calais faces an uncertain future B Y A L ICE D OD GE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont artists seem to fall into one of two camps: Either they have never heard of Art at the Kent, or they are devotees who make a pilgrimage to the long-ago tavern in Calais every fall. Vergennes boatbuilder Douglas Brooks said he was one of the former until he was asked to show his work. “My wife’s jaw dropped,” he recalled, “and she said, ‘You’re being invited to be in an exhibit at the Kent?’” 28

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Moving Douglas Brooks’ boat

Brooks is one of 20 artists in “Throughlines,” this year’s iteration of the annual art exhibition at the Kents Corner State Historic Site in Calais, which runs through October 11. No longer stuck in the stairwell, his boat is now suspended on a stand over another vessel, an 1880s dinghy he found for sale by the side of the road, grayed and weathered with age. Brooks, who

ALICE DODGE

The boat is stuck in a stairwell. Its bow points proudly toward the attic; its stern is firmly wedged on the landing. Five people — three curators, one artist and a friend — coax, lift, twist and push to usher the craft up the steep, narrow stairs, mindful not to mar either the boat or the peeling vintage wallpaper and crumbling plaster walls that surround it. Months ago, measurements were taken and mock-ups made to avert this scenario, but sometimes this building must make itself known. Everyone takes a breath, adjusts their grip and gives a good heave; the boat squeaks through to arrive mostly unscathed in a second-floor bedroom, where throngs of people will soon scratch their heads and ponder how it got there.

specializes in traditional Japanese boatbuilding, meticulously researched the antique craft’s designer (Henry Rushton of Canton, N.Y.) and history before taking its lines — a boatbuilder’s term for transferring measurements — to build a newer twin. Each Art at the Kent show coalesces around a theme. This year, like Brooks’ boat, the show takes a reflexive look at its own making and the connections between the artwork, the site and its community. “Throughlines” is the 20th exhibition in the series, which has become Vermont’s unlikely annual version of a biennial — a survey of some of the state’s most intriguing artists and a curatorial statement in its own right. The show asks viewers to consider not only what goes into a production like this one but also how it can possibly be sustained. Kents Corner is at a crossroads, literally speaking. To one side sits the stately 1830s red-brick inn and tavern where Art at the Kent appears each fall; across a narrow dirt road, a weathered barn overlooks fields of bobbing goldenrod and the burbling brook that fed the 1803 sawmill down the hill. It’s a bucolic spot and the last place anyone would

expect to find one of the state’s most anticipated shows of contemporary art. Yet the strange confluence of a building in a liminal state of historic preservation, a trio of thoughtful curators who happen to be neighbors, and enthusiastic participation from artists and thousands of visitors alike has made it just that. Now, Art at the Kent stands at a more figurative intersection. As the state seeks to preserve the fragile building from crowds of art lovers and the curators contemplate their own futures, the fate of the exhibition series is uncertain. Everyone involved seems to agree that the shows should go on, but the question of how the labor-intensive endeavor can continue and exactly what shape it takes is as open to interpretation as the constellation of artworks that lead visitors through the old tavern. Art at the Kent is a monumental undertaking for curators Cornelia “Nel” Emlen, Allyson Evans and David Schutz, Calais neighbors who are all close to or past retirement age. Early on, Evans said, the trio would start working on the show in April. “Now, of course, we start when the last one ends,” she said. And then there’s the building, owned by the state but not usually open to the public. Though the Calais community has come to expect the annual exhibition, the curators are never certain from one year to the next whether the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation will allow them access to the Kent or what new restrictions the state will introduce — and which ones the space will impose on its own. The Kent, as it’s widely known, was built in the 1830s and, for about a decade, served travelers on what was then a major thoroughfare between Montréal and Montpelier. It later included a post office and a general store, selling shoes and saddles made at a now-demolished leatherworker’s next door and butter tubs and household goods made upstairs, before becoming a family home. From 1953 to 1988, the Vermont Historical Society ran it as the Kent Tavern Museum. By 1991, the building was deteriorating, and the state took it over. Today, visitors might expect a cozy museum with 19th-century furniture and dusty interpretive labels. Instead, they will find evidence of conservation in medias res. Room after room boasts holes in the plaster, exposed lath, half-scraped vintage wallpaper, or unexpected pink, blue and green paint. Fireplaces in one half of the building have new surrounds with unfinished wooden mantels where leaky chimneys were removed. Some ceilings have a rough base coat of new plaster; others are studded with bolts to

JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

From left: Nel Emlen, David Schutz and Allyson Evans

It is the building’s reverberations with artists, and vice versa, that makes the installations what they are. D AV I D S C H U T Z

photographic, balanced the dynamic speed of Kathleen Fleming’s landscapes. Dorsey Hogg’s cut-paper sculptures and Amy Morel’s torn metal ones seemed to reach toward each other, while Stephanie Suter’s still lifes and Robert DuGrenier’s farm tools embedded in molten glass whispered in the corner with Denis Versweyveld’s quiet sculptures. The show was up — though as the curators will tell you, it’s never finished.

LET’S PUT ON A SHOW! A red thread emerges from the open neck of an old horse collar, surrounded by a vulval swath of leather and suspended within an open closet. Like Gustave Courbet’s 1866 painting “L’Origine du monde,” the installation is suggestive of a source, an unknowable beginning. Through the hole, the string seems to recede back forever into the darkness at the heart of the building. Exiting the closet, it finds a path along baseboards and up doorjambs, wrapping itself around forgotten nails and looping through wooden lath as it snakes, often subtly, through every room in the exhibition. It evokes a reminder tied on a finger; a child’s paper-cup telephone; an umbilical cord. The piece, “Whence It Came,” is by Colchester artist Kevin Donegan, who is spending Labor Day stringing the installation through the space. From the attic, off-limits to the

public, he retrieves something he found on an earlier visit: extremely dusty leather shoes, likely made at the cobbler’s workshop that was once next door. They are similar, Emlen says, to one that she’d found buried in the wall of her house. Neither she nor Evans had seen these before, despite hundreds of trips to the attic to keep an eye on the leaking roof. The thread laces through the shoes’ eyelets on its journey around the building, a literal throughline leading a viewer’s eye from architecture to art and back again. “From Whence It Came” by Kevin Donegan

COURTESY OF KEVIN DONEGAN

hold up the old. The rooms seem to keep going forever. All of which is to say: The Kent is anything but a white-cube gallery, and installing there is a specialized skill. The curators know what each and every wall will bear, where every hole is, which wooden moldings or patches of new construction can support intervention, and which surfaces are best left to shine on their own. And though every show, including this year’s, has been, as Emlen understates it, “a lot,” the effort is well worth it. At the opening reception on September 12, the crowd — Calais neighbors and art lovers from across New England alike — seemed to agree. Through the chaos of old friends greeting each other, colleagues admiring each other’s work, families catching up and curious souls exploring a weird old building, the links that make a site historic echoed through the space — connecting the building’s past life as a bustling tavern to its current one hosting a joyous crowd; the art people to the rural community; the aesthetic to the prosaic; and ideas to plans. Patty Hudak’s prints yelled across a void to Elise Whittemore’s, each asserting bold shapes and then retreating behind delicate details. Alan Stirt’s porcelainthin wooden bowls met Jerilyn Virden’s elegantly chunky ceramic vessels. The stillness of Celia Reisman’s and Bob Hannan’s heavy, hushed vignettes of ordinary places, hers painted and his

In the early days of Art at the Kent, Schutz said, the curators were contributing to what they thought would be a full restoration of the building sometime in the near future “with an art show that was drawing upon a resource that, happily, is easy to find in Calais — which is artists.” By 2008, the state’s plans to restore the building had stalled. That same year, the organizer of an annual fall foliage art show up the hill at the Old West Church had to cancel it. Emlen, Evans and Schutz, who all live a stone’s throw from the Kent, offered to hang something there instead as a fundraiser for Historic Kents Corner, a nonprofit whose goal is to supplement funding for the state’s preservation efforts. The public responded as strongly to the building as to the work, and the trio of curators started organizing other exhibitions under the Art at the Kent banner. Those included a couple of retrospectives of Calais artists who had died, a fine furniture exhibition and a show of locals’ collections. Among the last: a lunch box covered in fruit stickers and a giant ball of string. Schutz, 72, is the official curator for the State of Vermont, in charge of explaining the Statehouse building and its history to visitors as well as stewarding the state’s art collection. Evans, 62, and Emlen, 68, both have backgrounds as practicing artists. Together, the three have an uncanny visual sensibility and seemingly boundless “Let’s put on a show!” energy that has allowed the “exercise,” as Schutz calls Art at the Kent, to snowball into a Vermont art-world institution. With a few early exceptions, the Art at the Kent exhibitions have all been group shows that include a selection of works from each artist, mixed together and hung throughout the building as well as on the grounds. Past participants, now numbering 360, live all over Vermont. ART AT A CROSSROADS SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

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JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Aimée Papazian installing “Of Birds and Butter Tubs”

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Artists are only featured once, a rule that has contributed to the cachet of an invitation and given each show a distinctive vibe. The setting is a major factor in the show’s success. Donegan, of the evocative string installation, had been aware of Art at the Kent for years, he said, and has been especially drawn to the way artists respond to the space. Over the summer, he created several site-specific works for the exhibition. “Nel and Allyson called the house ‘a force,’ and I do feel like it has that quality,” he said. “The work has to be in conversation with the building.” The show now draws 6,000 visitors annually over its five-weekend run. That includes several hundred at opening and closing receptions and others who attend a parade of artist talks, tours, workshops and Sunday afternoon “Words Out Loud” readings at the Old West Church, which poet Mary Elder Jacobsen has organized since 2015. Down the road from the Kent at the Maple Corner Community Store & Whammy Bar, general manager Jamie Moorby said the deli’s busiest days of the year are when Art at the Kent is open. Visitors from all over New England show up to grab lunch, often remembering their sandwich order from the last time they were there. Many artists have seen robust sales of their work from the exhibition, 30

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

which draws collectors from across the state. Though the organizers happily take donations, which cover exhibition costs, pay the state for use of the site and benefit Historic Kents Corner, Art at the Kent has never taken a commission. To do so could create a barrier for artists who can’t afford to give up that portion of a potential sale. Jamie Franklin, director of collections and exhibitions at the Bennington Museum, has made the trek to Calais for the show half a dozen times. “I love the idea of an exhibition at a kind of crossroads in the middle of nowhere,” he said. He regularly finds new artists through Art at the Kent, some of whom have subsequently shown at the Bennington Museum. In 2015, the first time he went, Franklin encountered works by Michèle Raté — delicate, sea creature-like constructions made from gold wire, fishing line and bits of prints, presented under glass cloches on pedestals — in an upstairs bedroom that the late Louise Andrews Kent had covered in a hodgepodge of wallpaper samples. An author and journalist who once lived next door, she spearheaded restoration of the building in the 1930s and ’40s. “It worked so perfectly with Michèle’s work that I thought she had done it,” Franklin said. What the curators are particularly good at, Franklin said, is not only selecting great artists “but making it work in a really unusual and unique space — and actually taking advantage of that space.”

THE FOURTH CURATOR Swallows once nested in the room above the store, a former workshop whose cracked plaster is covered in ancient graffiti, such as “Jan 18 – 1913. PM — rains hard, no snow nor has there been enough for sledding, road’s all ice.” Though most of the window sashes are now too fragile to move, one must have been left open long enough for birds to make a home here. Aimée Papazian has practically made it hers as well, spending days in the sweltering room assembling an installation: hundreds of tiny ceramic birds that hang from wires, floating across the space like the M-shaped geese in a child’s drawing. Most of the birds are the same color as the graphite writing on the walls, but a horizontal white stripe crosses the murmuration, echoing the long cracks in the plaster. The sculpture seems like a memorial to the space that contains it, a marriage between the looped, cursive script and the swallows that must’ve swooped down and out, fledging past rippled glass on their way into the world, also attuned to the day’s weather.

Emlen, Evans and Schutz call the building “the fourth curator,” a reference to the constraints it places on hanging the work. New nails or screws can’t be hammered into most of the walls, forcing a creative approach to installation. Brightly painted or wallpapered surfaces dictate some of the works’ placement.

Others are limited by the weight each wall can carry. Lighting is mostly accomplished at the very end with a patchwork of clip lamps and extension cords supplementing the natural early fall glow through wavy glass panes. More than simply an unusual backdrop of exposed lath or funky wallpaper, Schutz said, “it is the building’s reverberations with artists, and vice versa, that makes the installations what they are.” The Kent is large, but its variety of spaces contributes to an intimate experience of each piece. Artists are asked to bring more work than the show requires so that the curators can find the right fit for each space, often making selections on the fly. The curators invite artists to tour the Kent when it’s empty, which gives a sense of the place and often spurs ideas for specific installations. All of this advance planning might suggest that the show is, well, planned. In reality, it’s a never-ending back-andforth between the works that are set — those site-specific to a particular room, or large outdoor sculptures — and those that are moved many times, usually with much deliberation between Emlen and Evans. Schutz often guides the group to a final decision, though even that is not always final. “We always say the show’s not done ’til the last day, when we’re taking it down,” Emlen said. Someone will visit a second time, and the curators have to explain that a piece has moved. “We keep seeing it with fresh eyes, and that [placement] doesn’t really make sense anymore.” Restrictions aside, the arrangement of each room is driven by a word the curators use often: resonance. That factor — how each work enlivens those around it; how its palette, shapes or subject echo with a detail of the building or its history; the view out a window or around a corner — propels the curators to do what they do, no matter how much time and energy is required to make the whole exercise sing. The artworks in the show not only reverberate with the building as it is today; they must contend with echoes from the site’s history. The Kent family has lived in Calais since 1798. Abdiel Kent built the inn and tavern between 1833 and 1837, using bricks made just down the road to the east and lumber milled at the Robinson Sawmill, up the road to the north. Abdiel and his brother Ira — two of seven Kent brothers — ran the general store until 1860, and the family farmed and owned the property until 1916.

JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

VERMONT’S

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Louise Andrews Kent, who wrote the popular 1941 novel Mrs. Appleyard’s Year, was born in Massachusetts, married into the family and came to Calais with her husband; they spent summers in the house next door to the inn and tavern. She convinced a wealthy Kent cousin to buy the property in 1930 and then led its restoration. A member of the Vermont Historical Society, she drove efforts to create the Kent Tavern Museum and was its first curator. Inspired by the Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago, Louise Andrews Kent created dioramas of decorated interiors in a room off the Kent’s general store. Art at the Kent has used that room as a “spotlight gallery,” a separate mini show, which this year hosts a display about typewriters. Members of the Kent family have bequeathed funding to the state to help establish a more comprehensive exhibit about Louise Andrews Kent, which the state’s Division for Historic Preservation intends to do in the near future. That means this is the last year Art at the Kent can use the spotlight gallery. When the Vermont Historical Society transferred the inn at Kents Corner to the state back in 1991, the division had plans for the site. “The

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idea was to open it up as an interpretive museum,” State Historic Preservation Officer Laura Trieschmann said, “but that never came to fruition, because the first priority was the stabilization of the building — which was pretty intense.” The state secured grant funding for some improvements, such as the addition of an ADA-compliant lift and bathrooms and installation of an HVAC system to prevent mold. After removing one entire wall of bricks and laying it on the ground before rebuilding it, Trieschmann said, preservation officials realized that a center for conservation studies would be a better use for the tavern. “The structure itself, architecturally, had so much history to tell us of how it was built.” The division partnered with Historic Windsor’s Preservation Education Institute to teach workshops at which students learned repair techniques such as traditional plasterwork, with the goal, according to a flyer, of preparing the site “for opening to the public before the year 2000.” But interest and enrollment flagged, according to Preservation Education Institute executive director Judy Hayward, and concrete plans — for either a teaching center or a museum — never materialized. Neighbors, including Emlen, Evans and Schutz, formed Historic Kents Corner, of which Art at the Kent is a subcommittee, as a fundraising organization to support maintenance and preservation at the site. The group pays the state for use of the property, and the curators keep an eye on the place year-round, letting division staff know if anything’s amiss. James Duggan, ART AT A CROSSROADS

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JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

THE OTHER THREE Dennis Versweyveld’s sculptures occupy space differently from other objects in this building. Whitewashed forms taken from still lifes — a soup pot, a jug — sit heavily atop their pedestals and columns, their tables with spindly, off-kilter legs. They have not yet been permanently placed but lurk in corners, hugging the walls like introverts at a party. Light from the windows falls softly on their talc-like surfaces, plain and subtle enough to make you aware of your own breathing. Their charged stillness is supernatural, conveying a sense of presence out of time from the rest of the room.

From left: “Untitled”; “Paint Pails”; “Three Objects with Paint Brush” by Dennis Versweyveld

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the division’s director of preservation, periodically assesses the building for damage and decides whether something needs to be fixed or should simply be off-limits to the public. As Art at the Kent has become more successful, the state has imposed new restrictions on the site each year. “The number of people in the building at the same time is a huge concern,” Trieschmann said, for fire and public safety reasons as well as structural and preservation ones. Though the curators are adept at working with the building’s limitations, visitors can also cause damage. People rub up against walls and create vibrations that loosen fragile surfaces. That happened to one ceiling last year, Trieschmann said: “That’s not something we necessarily want to fix, but we also can’t have plaster falling on people.” This year, traffic above the general store is limited to five visitors at once; next year, it will likely be entirely off-limits. 32

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Despite their concerns, staffers at the Division for Historic Preservation want events such as Art at the Kent to continue — whether they are other temporary exhibitions, performances or perhaps an artist residency program. (Though, they added, fewer people in attendance at once might make them a little less nervous.) What the state lacks isn’t enthusiasm but funding and capacity: The division has only a handful of employees to manage 84 buildings on 25 sites. The curators and the other members of Historic Kents Corner agree with the state — both that the show should happen and that they aren’t quite sure how. “What we’ve been saying amongst ourselves,” Emlen said, “is that some version of Art at the Kent is going to continue, but we don’t know what it’s going to look like.” Emlen suggested the next step could be a pause or possibly working with an expanded crew on next year’s show. A few years ago, she said, the curators invited the artists back for a party at the site, and she imagines doing something similar again as an opportunity to put the question to the community: “What could this be?”

Schutz likes to joke that Kents Corner has more curators, per capita, than anywhere else in the nation — or possibly the world. Though he and his cocurators are all volunteers who think of themselves as a “ragtag” bunch rather than museum professionals, he isn’t wrong. Schutz grew up in Ohio and came to Vermont in 1979 as a 26-year-old research assistant to help a Dartmouth College professor create comprehensive new museum-style labels and information at the Statehouse. Before being hired as the state’s first official curator in 1987, he worked at what’s now the Vermont Arts Council and at one point shared an office with Emlen. Central Vermonters might recognize his booming voice from his stint as the emcee of last spring’s Statehouse “No Kings” rally and the rest of him as a Pirates of Penzance-themed Mr. July in the famed 2002 “Men of Maple Corner” calendar, a project Emlen initiated. Schutz has a deep understanding and appreciation of Kents Corner and its context. As a historic preservationist, he sees his role in Art at the Kent as helping people understand the building; showcasing art alongside the exposed guts of its construction is a unique way to do that. The parallels between 19th-century craftsmanship and the artists’ 21st-century modes of creation are ever present. Though the approach is less formal than the kind of interpretive text and information you might see at the Statehouse, the goal is the same, he said: “It is all about what curators are supposed to be doing, which is guiding an audience to a story, or guiding them to an experience that is equally resonant.” After art school, Emlen was a park ranger at Mount Rainier in Washington until Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980. Then, after a chance meeting with the

grandson of Electra Havemeyer Webb, she came to work at Shelburne Museum. When the Vermont Historical Society posted a curatorial job that included free housing, she jumped on it — which is how she ended up living in the Kent Tavern Museum for two summers of her nine years as the museum’s curator. Though the few tiny rooms of the apartment were hot and cramped, she was living out a kind of childhood dream, she said, likening her experience to that of the kids who run away to live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Emlen knows every inch of the building and has a keen understanding of the typical audience for a historic house museum. After mounting the first art show at the Kent, she said, “I loved seeing it used so differently, because it’s not what people expect.”

We always say the show’s not done ’til the last day, when we’re taking it down. N EL EM L EN

Evans trained as an art therapist and taught in a low-residency program at Vermont College in Montpelier in the 1990s. Soon after she moved to Vermont from Philadelphia to become the program’s assistant director, it was eliminated in one of the institution’s many upheavals. “I had bought this old farmhouse; it was totally falling down,” she said, “and I couldn’t suddenly resell it.” The house became her anchor, and she fixed it up while she worked as a pastry chef at Shelburne Farms and sometimes took jobs out of state, including as a ceramic artist at a factory in Connecticut. Evans, often clad in overalls with a pencil in her hair, thrives on intensive projects in short bursts. She and Emlen install most of the 300 or so works for each show, working more than full time for the two weeks before the opening, often at night, by headlamp. Even if they can find other folks willing to put in the requisite time to take over Art at the Kent — a big if — the curators worry that their knowledge of the building’s quirks is not easily transferrable. Neither

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Stefania Urist building “Until the Water Runs Dry” out of invasive phragmites

DOING THE THING

“A Pardon Paradox” by Justin A. Kenney

is their proximity to the site, which allows them to run across the street to borrow tools and furniture from home, check on the building during the winter, and work on the show as though it were taking place in their own backyard. “We’ve done it this particular way for so long,” Schutz said, that Emlen and Evans “have invented all kinds of techniques that nobody else would have put the time and energy into developing.” Evans is also attuned not only to the building’s easily observed weirdness but to its ghosts. She believes it was Louise Andrews Kent, who died in 1969, “who was controlling all the strings for all three of us moving here,” she said. “I think she’s the one who really wanted this to be happening.”

The concrete sculpture arrives strapped to pallets on a trailer pulled by a pickup truck. Justin A. Kenney has brought it here from Brattleboro — one of several deliveries he’ll make before the show opens — on the same day his third child is due. The sculpture is an accumulation of interlocking slabs assembled like a house of cards. Its patina matches the building’s granite foundation. Kenney pulls the truck around onto the grass, expertly back-andforthing his 3,000-pound cargo into place. He parks it, then surveys the scene with Emlen and Evans. Here is too close to the stop sign; there, too tight to the stairs. They reverse the truck and try again. Kenney likes one spot, but Evans knows it will interfere with the view of James Payne’s piece, which isn’t there yet. They do this for a long time before sliding the sculpture out of the trailer and onto the grass and carefully pulling out its supports. Finally in place, its angles are in perfect conversation with the barn across the street, as though it was always supposed to be there.

This year, Art at the Kent didn’t receive its final agreement from the state until March. By that point, as they do every year, the curators had already started looking at artists from a running list they keep, surveying websites and works in other shows. Then they conducted around 20 studio visits across the state. Each show’s theme develops organically, Schutz said: “We go with our gut instincts about feeling something, and those feelings turn into artists.” Once ART AT A CROSSROADS

September 26–January 18

Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit was co-organized by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. TM & © 2026 Penguin Random House LLC. All Rights Reserved

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

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they have an initial group, they start to tease out common threads to arrive at a cohesive idea. “It takes a fair amount of talking.” The shows are always notable for the breadth of the work, from conceptual artists to craft artisans. Kevin Donegan, whose practice ranges from found-object sculpture to performance, said he could tell the curators were already familiar with his work when they stepped into his studio. “There’s a real sense of being seen but then also being open to something they hadn’t seen yet,” he said. “Just that initial conversation gave me tons of ideas.” On a visit to David Hurwitz’s woodshop in Randolph, the curators spent more than an hour looking at his materials and process, sussing out which pieces might be available in September. Hurwitz is most known for his wavyedged mirrors, but only one ended up in the show. So did carved wall reliefs, an end table made from a found piece of petrified wood and another, taken from Hurwitz’s home, in an odd yellow hue that fits right in at the Kent. None of those is pictured on his website. The studio visits are invaluable, the curators said, because they’ll often see older pieces or unfinished ones — sometimes the work the artist isn’t showing off becomes the most interesting. While the Kent is still empty, some of the artists install their own work, particularly large sculptures and installations, in consultation with the curators. One of Seven Days’ visits coincided with Stefania Urist’s installation. Her dramatic outdoor sculptures are made from phragmites, the invasive reeds that teams of volunteers are trying to eradicate from nearby Curtis Pond as well as from wetlands in Londonderry, where she lives. Once she and the curators had determined the best place for her sculptures, Urist cut and fanned her reeds into arches and whorls, twisting them around rebar that she carefully pounded only the state’s requisite less than 18 inches into the ground. Meanwhile, the curators were considering a different piece of hers inside: a group of prints made from the charred surface of a cut oak tree, a subject echoing the historic Robinson Sawmill, a “thunder mill” that only ran when the water in the dam was high enough. Depending on how they’re arranged, the panels evoke a cross section of the log or the thick ribbon of a river. The curators moved them around the floor, shifting directions, adding space 34

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

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between them, nudging them apart and back together, swapping panels. They discussed the piece’s impact on the other works in the room, its closeness to the corner, which layouts were too crowded or sparse. They talked over each other, finishing each other’s sentences, acting on someone else’s suggestion before their thought was articulated. After 45 minutes, and without bringing in the artist, they were happy with the arrangement. A week later, it was totally different.

‘EVERY YEAR’S OUR LAST YEAR’ James Payne’s brightly colored sculptures bristle across the landscape. Painted wooden planks fan out from central axes, straight lines that create the illusion of a curve twisting through space. Inside and upstairs, a case displays tinier, more fragile versions of his robust constructions. Each of these is a simple, delicate object — a credit card, cut almost all the way through and splayed out, spiking in different directions like a newly woken hedgehog. The pairing is a reminder of how a small gesture can snowball.

Emlen jokes that she needs a T-shirt printed with her favorite imagined tagline for the project: “Art at the Kent: Every Year’s Our Last Year.” It’s how they feel each fall, she said, when they’re burnt out and can’t even contemplate the next show. But because “Throughlines” is their 20th, it feels different. “We’re doing this, reflecting on how much longer we can even keep this going,” Schutz said. The logistics of putting on Art at the Kent have always been complicated, but it’s grown more unmanageable at scale. The curators have felt recently that juggling everything from artists’ requests to the state’s requirements to cleaning the bathrooms is getting harder each year. All of them worry about one of the others needing to back out suddenly because of illness or to take care of an aging parent. Emlen closed her floral design business because she couldn’t manage both; Schutz is considering retirement from his position at the state. And there’s the ever-present question all successful artists face: Will the next show be as good? “As we get older,” Emlen said, “I, for one, feel less competent, and I don’t want to go beyond where we can do it well.” Evans feels the state’s rules and rigidity are driving them toward a scaleddown version of the show. And while the

James Payne installing “Opposition”

Art at the Kent opening celebration

curators are proud that the exhibition has become such a juggernaut, it also creates pressure for each show to be at least as good as last year’s. “There’s this expectation that never used to be there,” Emlen said. What has kept Art at the Kent going — and will likely continue to do so, no matter what form it takes — is perhaps its most basic throughline: Calais itself. Twenty exhibitions in, the overall effort still relies on the dedication and spirit of the people who live there. A recurring crew of volunteers — many of whom are past participants — keeps things running smoothly, year after year. Jacobsen, the poet, not only organizes “Words Out Loud” readings but also helps with what she calls “finding the

language” — articulating the theme and editing the artists’ statements. Artists Linda Mirabile, Mary Azarian and Kate Burnim manage publicity; Lissa Fox assembles gallery books. Juliana Jennings, who co-owns J. Langdon antiques store in Montpelier with her husband, furnishes each exhibition with tables, chairs and display furniture. Barbara Butler, who recently retired as Calais’ assistant town clerk, wrangles an army of about 100 local volunteers for each show, who keep the building open and answer visitors’ questions. During installation for this year’s exhibition, neighbors and friends popped by the Kent so often that it felt like “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” or perhaps “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” Still in his helmet,

ALICE DODGE

Eric Small paused on a bike ride with an idea about food for the opening reception. Syver Rogstad, a machinist who often helps behind the scenes, came over to install metal hardware he’d customfabricated so that one of Robert DuGrenier’s sculptures — a metal vise, dripping with melted glass — could rest safely on the wall. Chip Haggerty, who showed his work last year, dropped off a painting of a typewriter for the show’s mini exhibition on the subject (which, he was assured, doesn’t break the curatorial rule of being included more than once). His wife, Amy, brought chocolate. Even Sugar on Snow, Evans’ cat, made an appearance, curious about the new outdoor sculptures invading his territory. At the opening reception two weeks ago, an unintended meaning of “throughlines” became apparent, starting with long lines of cars parked along both roads. People waited their turn to get into the Kent, queuing for the stairs to the second floor and in a separate line for the five-person-only room with graffitied plaster. Visitors swept slowly around the building’s sort-of-circular floor plan, passing through clustered conversations,

James Merrill’s pen plotter

how this year’s show had turned out. It’s a little like theater, Emlen explained: You really don’t think it’s going to come together until the last minute, when it magically does. And besides, once the crowds are gone, they can go in and fix things, she said. Tomorrow morning, all of the work would still be waiting.

only some of which were about the art: “It’s always so much work.” “Are you still looking for a babysitter?” “There are a lot of monochrome pieces this year. I wonder if that’s on purpose.” “How’s your retirement going?” “There’s too many people to see upstairs — I’ll catch it next time.” “Mom, there’s a dog in that lady’s bag!” “Have you found the string in the floorboards?” The lines eventually dissipated as visitors ambled across the lawn. Justin Kenney’s two older boys climbed his concrete sculpture while he showed off pictures of their newborn brother. James Merrill, whose pen-plotter

drawings populate the show, held his 2-month-old, who squinted and made faces in the golden-hour sunlight. Calais poet Geof Hewitt composed rhymes on the spot, clacking them out at a portable typewriter set up on the lawn. Neighbors stopped by with their dogs to take in live music and hors d’oeuvres, enjoying the scene without ever going inside. The curators, having hung the last pieces just moments before the crowds arrived, finally took a breath. Between greeting friends and slipping out to the lawn for a well-earned plastic cup of wine, they said they felt good about

ON VIEW THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST, 2026

MARCIA CRUMLEY & JANE DAVIES

On an old sewing cabinet next to a window, James Merrill’s drawings make themselves. His intricate penand-ink compositions, reminiscent of circuit boards, are drawn via pen plotter; he writes the code that draws the drawings. The work might seem antithetical to the historic setting, but this was always a place of industry and innovation. The curators tell the artist that they don’t really understand what he is doing, but they’re OK with that. They are always fascinated by something new.

INFO Art at the Kent: “Throughlines,” through October 11, Fridays through Mondays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Kents Corner State Historic Site in Calais. kentscorner.org

JOIN US FOR ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH

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Poet in Lake Eden

A new book explores Spanish poet Federico García Lorca’s secret relationship with a Hardwick man nearly a century ago BY AMY L IL LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

How did Lorca’s stay in Vermont come to your attention? It started while I was still employed at 36

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

COURTESY

HISTORY

Federico García Lorca and Philip Cummings

COURTESY OF FIGABELLA PHOTOGRAPHY

pain’s most famous poet, Federico García Lorca, wrote his last published work, Poeta en Nueva York (Poet in New York), during a yearlong trip he took to the U.S. and Cuba starting in June 1929. He never saw the collection in print. Lorca was executed by Francoist sympathizers in Granada on August 18, 1936, five weeks after he had submitted the manuscript to his editor, who subsequently fled with it to Mexico to escape the Spanish Civil War. Among the questions left behind in the chaos was: What’s up with the references to Vermont in Poet in New York? The collection contains two sections with “Vermont” in their titles, which include the poems “Double Poem of Lake Eden,” “Living Sky” and others. Scholars knew Lorca had left New York City to spend 10 days on the shores of Lake Eden in August 1929 with one Philip Cummings of Hardwick, a supposed friend. But who was Cummings? Independent researcher and writer Patricia Billingsley became so intrigued by these questions while living in western Massachusetts and working at Smith College that she did a deep dive into the two men’s biographies. The 74-year-old, now a resident of Newark, Del., spent 20 years researching the men and, it turned out, their three-year love affair. “It was a puzzle that fell into my lap that I could just not let go of,” she said. Cummings, who died in 1991, was a poet, too, Billingsley learned. He was born in Hardwick in 1906 and attended Hardwick Academy and two Florida colleges. During college in 1928, he did a summer language program in Madrid, where he and Lorca met. Their next meeting was a supposedly chance encounter on an overnight train from Madrid to Paris in June 1929. During that trip, Cummings invited Lorca to visit him in Vermont later that summer. Billingsley’s book on that rendezvous, Lorca in Vermont: The Spanish Poet and His American Lover, was published in May by University of New Mexico Press and issued in Spanish translation by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. The author has given talks in New York City, Granada and North Hero. Seven Days spoke to her ahead of her next one on Saturday, September 26, at Jeudevine Memorial Library in Hardwick.

“DOUBLE POEM” IS AN ANGUISHED POEM, A CRY FOR

THE FREEDOM TO LOVE OPENLY WHOMEVER HE WANTS TO LOVE. PATR IC IA BIL L INGS L E Y

Smith College, in 2006. I had full library privileges there. I realized, Here’s this famous poet I know virtually nothing about. I decided to read Ian Gibson’s biography of him [Federico García Lorca: A Life]. Gibson talks about this young man from Vermont and their relationship as just this friendship, and a little about Lorca’s time at Lake Eden and the poems he wrote there. But there was something about it I could not shake: How did this 21-year-old become friends with Lorca?

The other element was how Cummings had been dismissed in Lorca scholarship, as though he was just a young fan of Lorca’s. One person told me the only reason [Lorca] accepted the offer to come to Vermont was that he felt compelled out of politeness. I was trying to figure out all these pieces. Then I read his poems and plays. Following his trip to Vermont, he went to the Catskills for three weeks. During that time he wrote more poems [in Poet in New York] that I believe were in large part about processing his time in Vermont and the course of their relationship. What about their relationship comes through in Lorca’s Vermont poems? It is my premise in the book that Federico had gone to Vermont in the hope that his relationship with Philip, which was already sexual, would turn into something more romantic. Lorca was 31 when he made this trip to the U.S.; he was ready for a more committed relationship. But he really misjudged Philip, who was 21, had just graduated from college and was about to head to St. Louis to teach languages. This became very clear as the two spent time together. Federico was experiencing a great deal of anguish, but he wasn’t about to reveal that to Philip, so he poured it out in his poems. “Double Poem” is an anguished poem, a cry for the freedom to love openly whomever he wants to love. You write in your epilogue that homophobia in Spain is the primary reason the Vermont episode

remained unexamined for so long. When did Lorca scholars begin to acknowledge Lorca’s homosexuality? The first mention of Lorca being gay was in the introduction to a 1955 translation of Poet in New York, which was first published in 1940. But there was no mention of Vermont, so no one had any concrete evidence of why Lorca was talking about Vermont in this collection. The reception [of my book] in Spain has been so surprising to me in that people were grateful I’d written about Lorca as a gay man in such a matter-of-fact fashion. I am saying in the book that this is a fundamental part of his identity. It shaped his worldview and his work. Did you meet any of Philip Cummings’ relatives? I met several members of the family, but those interactions were sometimes difficult. I got to talk to people who had known Philip in his later years, including Gibson and other leading scholars and biographers. The most important was Dionisio Cañas, a Spanish poet who taught literature in New York City. In 1985, he and a group of friends went up to Lake Eden, found Cummings’ number in the phone book and cold-called him. There was this immediate connection between Philip and Dionisio. They were both gay men. Dionisio stayed for a weekend, and Philip told him the whole story of his life. Dionisio gave me copies of the notes that he took there. Is the camp on Lake Eden still there? Yes. It’s actually on the market at the moment. I got to know the previous owners, who allowed me to stay there several times. They sold it 10 years ago, and the new owner allowed me to stay also. They’re all so appreciative of its history. When they had to replace some of the siding, they had rounded clapboards made to match the existing ones. It’s a beautiful place. ➆ This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO Lorca in Vermont: The Spanish Poet and His American Lover by Patricia Billingsley, University of New Mexico Press, 232 pages. $27.95. Hardwick Historical Society hosts Billingsley for a book talk on Saturday, September 26, 7 p.m., at Jeudevine Memorial Library in Hardwick. Free. hardwickvthistory.org

HENRY SIEBER

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food+drink

A Bidwell bowl

Winning Bid

FIRST

In Waterbury, seasoned pros deliver an unfussy all-day menu at the Bidwell

BITE

S T O RY MEL I SSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com | PH OT OS J E B WAL L AC E - BR O D E UR

ven if you’re not planning to drink wine at the Bidwell in Waterbury, it’s worth checking out the list for a chuckle and proof that the new restaurant does not take itself too seriously. Co-owner, general manager and self-described TV buff Rachael Brown is responsible for the wine menu and its evocatively tongue-in-cheek descriptions, many of which invoke cultural icons. Take the description of a sparkling Oregon rosé ($12/glass): “Light body, big acid; light bubbles, bright berries — Alexis Rose, if she went to picnics.” Diners who watch “Schitt’s Creek” will be familiar with that flighty, self-absorbed character. Another, perhaps more niche metaphor likens the “lemon zest, white flowers, saline [and] vibrant acidity” of a Spanish rioja blanco ($15/glass) to “the charm and quiet depth of Malcolm Reynolds” — Nathan Fillion’s character on the cult sci-fi classic “Firefly.” “Most people won’t know who he is, but the one person who does will be delighted,” Brown said, “and that delights me.”

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Rachael Brown at the Bidwell

Brown, 40, hopes that the Bidwell delights guests from their first sip of wine, espresso or what she calls “day-drinking” low-ABV beers through the all-day food menu, the work of chef Tiffany Caldwell.

The Bidwell fulfills a career mission for Brown. The longtime hospitality professional most recently worked at Waterbury’s Prohibition Pig after helping open the local outpost of Stone’s Throw in 2023. Over many years of experience in New York City bars and restaurants before she returned to her native Vermont, Brown refined a blueprint for her ideal eating and drinking establishment. “I always want people to come however they are and get whatever they’re looking for,” Brown said. “We’re going for an all-day, snacky-type thing.” When the former Stowe Street Café became available, Brown partnered with Katya d’Angelo and Chris Triolo, who own Bridgeside Books in the same building. They refreshed the space with calming deep teal paint, refurbished floors, a new bar top, updated lighting and comfy leather chairs. D’Angelo also founded the mobile Udder Guys ice cream tricycle business, which she sold and bought back earlier this year; it now has a permanent scoop counter in the Bidwell’s front corner. “I love the all-day concept,” Analina Aitken gushed at the restaurant bar on a recent Thursday afternoon. The Waterbury resident became a regular at the Bidwell soon after its June opening at 29 Stowe Street. “You can get coffee or wine at 9 a.m. — and sometimes you want that,” she said with a grin. Aitken, a vegetarian, quickly adopted favorites, which she orders depending on her whims rather than the hour. From the “breakfast(ish)” section of the menu, she might choose the baked oatmeal ($9) with steamed milk and fruit; or the Bidwell bowl ($16), chock-full of rice, a rainbow of veggies, roasted chickpeas and toasted seeds with a lemon-tahini-miso dressing. In the “bread & stuff ” and “shareables” sections, Aitken loves the golden beet sandwich ($13) with whipped herby chèvre, pistachios and arugula, along with the creamy dill potato salad ($11), dressed with buttermilk, horseradish gremolata

Every dish or drink is available throughout the restaurant’s 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. hours. The all-day welcome is warm, professional and consistently delicious, as one might expect from the pair of seasoned pros.

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Clockwise from bottom: Tahini French toast, pastries, crispy potatoes, falafel eggs Benedict and spiced tahini iced coffee at the Grey Jay in 2023

Burlington’s the Grey Jay to Close in Mid-October The GREY JAY, the eastern Mediterranean-inflected breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant from the team behind Burlington’s HONEY ROAD, will close after service on October 12, according to executive chef and co-owner CARA CHIGAZOLA TOBIN. She and general manager and co-owner ALLISON GIBSON took a hard look at the Grey Jay’s numbers pending the renewal of their lease on 135 Pearl Street in Burlington. “As much as we love it, it just doesn’t quite work,” said Chigazola Tobin, 44. Honey Road at 156 Church Street will celebrate its decade anniversary next year and “is not going anywhere,” she emphasized. The Grey Jay was the second Burlington restaurant for the 2025 James Beard Foundation finalists in the nationwide Outstanding Restaurateur category. They opened it in December 2022 in the location best known as the 22-year home of the city’s only LGBTQ+ bar — first called Pearls, then 135 Pearl. Making the restaurant’s full-service model work for breakfast and lunch in the relatively small, 36-seat space proved a challenge, Chigazola Tobin said. “We

need about 20 more seats to actually make it work financially,” she explained. The rising costs of ingredients and other overhead expenses have also been harder to absorb at a daytime destination, “where the check average is lower,” Chigazola Tobin said. While the restaurant was busy on weekends, she said, weekday downtown lunch traffic never bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, as the owners’ business projections anticipated. Chigazola Tobin did not rule out a future return of the Grey Jay in a larger space, or the appearance of some of its dishes on the Honey Road menu or even an occasional Grey Jay-style brunch pop-up there. She said business at Honey Road has rebounded with the completion of downtown Burlington’s “Great Streets” project. “After all the construction, it felt like this year was normal,” Chigazola Tobin said. Any Grey Jay gift certificates outstanding after that restaurant’s mid-October closure can be redeemed at Honey Road.

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tiny wild strawberries and meadow flowers with a bracing edge of fresh mountain and a crunchy double-spud garnish of air. potato chips. We ordered a smorgasbord mostly Chef Caldwell, 46, has worked in from the “shareables” section of the restaurants and on farms for close to menu, my favorite way to eat, which three decades. Most recently, she spent allowed us to sample a wide variety. three years as Heirloom Hospitality’s Although small plates can add up, commissary chef, responsible for crafting the Bidwell’s prices are reasonable, ingredients, such as fresh pasta, for the especially considering its local sourcgroup’s five restaurants. ing: The six plates we ordered would easily Three of those are in have fed three people Waterbury: Prohibition Pig, Gallus and Hen of for about $25 apiece. the Wood, also the site of The kitchen was Heirloom’s commissary ably manned that night kitchen. by experienced chef Peter Caride, who While the Bidwell’s worked with Caldwell menu is much more casual than that of Hen at Heirloom Hospitality. or Gallus, Caldwell’s “I would call him my careful sourcing and superhero,” she said attention to detail reach gratefully. the same level of excelOur first trio included lence. Brown said she the panzanella salad ($15), summer beet feels very lucky to have R A C H A EL B R O WN salad ($10) and one of Caldwell on board. “She just really cares about nourishing regular Aitken’s picks: the potato salad. people in a way that is so genuine and The voluptuous panzanella hit peak delicious,” Brown said. tomato-season juiciness, sprinkled with On the front-of-house side, Brown — creamy Vermont feta and shards of toasty who often juggles hosting, serving and bread and dressed with a delightfully ice cream-scooping duties — welcomes bright sherry vinaigrette. In the beet guests with her own genuine warm salad, plump, tart-sweet blueberries attention. During my first, Friday-eve- partnered beautifully with chunks of ning visit with a friend, she noted our the golden root vegetable set over a swirl debate between two rosé choices and of thick yogurt, scattered with a spiced promptly offered to bring us tastes of molasses-maple seed mix. both. Upon noticing the crunch of potato The wine list aptly described our even- chips in the potato salad, my friend tual pick, La Kiuva Rosé de Vallée ($15/ marveled appreciatively, “There’s texture glass) from the northern Italian Alps, in everything.” as “twirling through the opening of The She was not initially as positive Sound of Music.” It did indeed conjure about the unexpectedly al dente bite of

I ALWAYS WANT PEOPLE TO COME HOWEVER THEY ARE

AND GET WHATEVER THEY’RE LOOKING FOR.

food+drink

A scone, housemade butter and a latte

the marinated lupini beans ($11) with herbs and pickled red onion, which were intended to top a sweet roasted garlic spread on accompanying crostini. But I loved their firm nuttiness, and they grew on her, as evidenced by continued nibbling even as other dishes arrived. The compulsion is “kind of like eating popcorn,” Caldwell later explained. We finished with a trio of herby meatballs ($17) and the marinated zucchini tartine ($14) from the “bread & stuff ” section of sandwiches and open-faced, topped toasts. Waitsfield’s 5th Quarter makes the local pork-and-beef mix for the excellent meatballs, which are served on housemade ricotta with marinated mushrooms and grilled bread. The tartine, spread with more ricotta, held a tumble of thinly sliced squash with a sprightly green

herb chimichurri and a drizzle of tomato oil. It may inspire you to reconsider your neighbor’s offer of excess zucchini. For a sweet finish, we indulged in a couple of scoops ($5.25 for one; $7 for two) from the Udder Guys counter. The top-notch ice cream from New York’s Adirondack Creamery comes in flavors such as chocolate-peanut butter and pistachio-cardamom. On a return meal in the early afternoon, I perched at the bar and tried a few more selections, including the classic ham baguette sandwich ($15), richly loaded with thinly sliced 5th Quarter ham, housemade butter and a mustard aioli. The roasted sweet potato soup ($8) — creamy with yogurt and zesty with lime and sumac — easily won me over, despite being an unwelcome reminder that fall and winter loom. To console myself, I revisited the wine list and imagined a post-Mad River Valley cross-country ski visit to the Bidwell, during which I might sip a Piedmontese red ($16/glass) with notes of “ripe cherry + blood orange, hint of pepper, juicy acidity,” channeling “adult Jess Mariano energy.” When Brown describes Waterbury to friends from New York City, “I tell them I live in the real-life Stars Hollow,” she said of the fictional setting of “Gilmore Girls,” where Jess was good-girl Rory’s “bad-boy” suitor. And if recalling the cozy, spirited charm of “Gilmore Girls” doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will. ➆

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/8/26 12:03 PM

AGRICULTURE

Weighing In Growers of giant pumpkins — and other big plants — gather to check their work STO RY & P H O T O S B Y J OR DAN BAR RY jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Growers from four states brought their biggest and best to the Vermont Giant Pumpkin Growers Association’s annual weigh-off at Sam Mazza’s Farm Market in Colchester on Saturday. Seventeen giant pumpkins, in shades from light apricot to safety orange, were the marquee event. But there was prodigious produce of all kinds: carrots, long gourds, sunflowers, watermelon, tomatoes and even an onion, though there’s no official category for humongous alliums. They took turns on the scale for several hours, each official measurement met with a photo op and applause from a crowd of several hundred. Heaviest overall was a 1,730.5-pound pumpkin grown by Wilbur Horton of Springfield, one of several volunteers who harnessed pumpkins for the forklift throughout the day. Lisa Gates of Benson lost her larger pumpkin to rot. But she won a coveted prize for her smaller 888-pounder: the Howard Dill award for orangest, most symmetrical giant pumpkin. For many of the VGPGA’s 60-plus members, copresident Jenna Baird said, each season is about beating a personal best. “It’s really fun to watch them grow, whether it’s 200 pounds or 2,000 pounds,” Baird said. “What brings more joy than giant vegetables?” Seven Days got the story behind three of the entrants: a first-timer’s misshapen giant, the world’s largest tomatoes and a new state-record sunflower.

Lumpy, grown by David Petro

Giant tomatoes, 8.75 pounds and 8.6 pounds When Kerry and John Young started growing pumpkins in 1996, they didn’t produce giants. But their first variety was bigger than a typical jack-o’-lantern. “You kind of catch a fever,” said Kerry, a retired teacher. (John spent the day on the mic as emcee, building suspense before giving growers their official weights.) The Jericho couple grew a 1,765-pound pumpkin in 2025. This year’s entry — named Sybil Ludington for “the female Paul Revere” in honor of America’s 250th anniversary — was small by comparison at 1,317 pounds. Meanwhile, on Saturday at least, their knobby red-and-green tomatoes were the second- and fourth-largest recorded in the world.

While the two crops are similar in the food they want, Kerry explained, listing North Atlantic kelp, Epsom salts and Miracle-Gro, the tomatoes are “a little less physical in their requirements.” The Youngs fill their small backyard plot, but they don’t do it for the record books, Kerry said: “We really just love being out in the garden.”

Giant sunflower, 24 feet, 9.5 inches Former VGPGA president Ethan Nelson set a new state record on Saturday, but it wasn’t for a pumpkin. His sunflower — with a stem thinner than the rebar that supported it — broke his own previous record of 21 feet. Nelson got into growing giants after reading a 2018 newspaper article about Vermont legends Dan and Holly Boyce. Over

Giant pumpkin, 627.5 pounds David Petro is a first-time grower but not a first-time attendee: At last year’s event, his wife, Anne, won a contest for closest estimation of a pumpkin’s weight. (It was 238 pounds; she guessed 237.) The Morrisonville, N.Y., couple got to bring that pumpkin home, where they displayed it in the front yard. It was the talk of the cul-de-sac. This year, Petro grew two pumpkins of his own. One died two weeks before the weigh-off, but the remaining pumpkin, dubbed Lumpy by Petro’s grower mentor, beat even his wife’s guess of 573 pounds. “They say it’s really hard to get, start to finish, even one pumpkin,” Petro said. “To grow an over-500-pound pumpkin in my first year, I’m pretty pleased.” Will he be back next year? “Definitely,” Petro said. “I want that 1,000-pounder.”

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Ethan Nelson with the top of his record-breaking sunflower after official measurement

Giant tomato grown by John and Kerry Young

the years, Nelson grew pumpkins that won a Howard Dill award and broke 1,000 pounds. “But they’re divas,” he said. Sunflowers are a different story. The first year he planted them, with “no love whatsoever,” a 16-footer shot up beside the pumpkin he was agonizing over. He’s been reaching for the sun ever since. Whatever the species of the giant, growing it is always what Nelson calls “a nurturing contest.” “The competition is about how much you can take care of a little, vulnerable thing and help it reach its potential,” he said. “It’s a funny form of competitiveness.” ➆

INFO Learn more at vermontgiants.com. Each $25 VGPGA annual membership comes with a packet of giant pumpkin seeds.

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SIDEdishes « SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

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Woodbelly Café Closes After Four Months at Middlesex’s Camp Meade

A Woodbelly Plant Power pizza

FILE: SUZANNE PODHAIZER

Construction Construction

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FILE: CALEB KENNA

Woodbelly, the 18-year-old wood-fired pizza business, has not survived its recent move and expansion from Montpelier to Middlesex. In May, thenco-owners chef Frederick MacKenzie and operations and finance manager Eric Andersen opened Woodbelly Café at Camp Meade in the former home of RED HEN BAKING, which had moved its retail store to Montpelier while completing a new bakery at another Middlesex location. On Friday, September 18, Andersen, 46, confirmed that the café closed at the end of August, with a final pizza night on September 5. He described himself as “the only person left.” Camp Meade owner RUSS BENNETT told Seven Days that he has new restaurant tenants lined up for the space but could not share more at this time. The Camp Meade move had signaled a new era for Woodbelly, which started out in 2008 vending local ingredient-topped sourdough pizzas at farmers markets and operated as a worker-owned cooperative for many years. After launching the new location in May, the team gradually rolled out a menu of daytime sandwiches, salads and sides, along with outdoor pizza and a creemee window. Andersen said slower customer traffic than anticipated proved challenging, on top of the investment required to open the Middlesex restaurant. “We just didn’t bring enough money in to pay the rent,” he said. Andersen launched a $35,000 crowdfunding effort on September 17 in hopes of covering enough of the business’ debt

Jess Messer

to potentially sell it to new owners and reopen in Montpelier. On September 21, however, Andersen told Seven Days that he had decided against trying to raise funds that way, and Woodbelly was most likely gone for good. He noted that the business would fulfill its remaining catering obligations.

M . P.

Tandem Closes After 11.5 Years in Bristol

A longtime shared commercial kitchen, business incubator and community gathering place has closed its doors at 26 Main Street in Bristol. LAUREN GAMMON of NOMADIC CHEF CATERING and JESS MESSER of SAVOURÉ joined forces to open Tandem in 2015, using the production space — marked only by a blue tandem bicycle hung above the door — for their already established businesses. At the end of this catering season, Gammon will hang up her apron. After 27-plus years in the physically demanding career, she’s moving to a consulting job with BRISTOL COLLABORATIVE CAMPUS, home of BRISTOL BOTANICALS, as that nursery expands into a food hub and event space. Meanwhile, Savouré will continue in a new production space. Messer plans to grow her soda and seltzer distribution in kegs as well as bottles and cans. Tandem had an “intentionally

obtuse” public face, Messer said, with no website or posted hours. But its cofounders used that flexibility to downtown, Burlington sublease affordable space to fledgling businesses, including ARIEL’S HONEY INFUSIONS, V SMILEY PRESERVES — which moved down the street when owner V SMILEY opened MINIFACTORY in 2022 — and, most recently, DOWNHILL BREAD, Presented by which is now looking for a new home. Messer and Gammon had hoped Downhill would take over the space, but “it wasn’t our decision, and it didn’t end up working out that way,” Messer said. The future of the space remains uncertain. The duo also highlighted new Supported by American chefs with pop-ups, hosted community functions and ran seasonal events that have since become staples, including a Day of the Dead shrine; winter solstice celebration Lumen (now run by Bristol CORE); and a night market that predated the 2023 return of Community Partners the BRISTOL FARMERS MARKET. “The community piece was more of a project than an actual business plan, which meant we had a lot of freedom to do a lot of different things,” Gammon said. Messer considered staying but “wasn’t so interested in doing the churchstreetmarketplace.com community-focused aspect solo, because the fun part of it was doing it in tandem — pun intended — with Lauren,” she said. “We created a thing that was 6v-ChurchStreet092326 1 9/21/26 1:00 PM exactly what we wanted it to be, and say you saw it in [now we] thought, Maybe it’s somebody else’s turn.”

10.3 | 10am-12pm

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

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COURTESY

culture

Jaime Cruz performing in front of a video of Laurence Olivier as Hamlet in Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet

THEATER

To Be Seen

Actors with Down syndrome present a “very free version” of Hamlet B Y M ARY A NN L I CKTE IG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

or years, Chela De Ferrari, founder of a theater in Lima, Peru, called Teatro La Plaza, had wanted to direct Hamlet, but she couldn’t find the right actor to play the title role. Then one day, an usher in the theater, Jaime Cruz, introduced himself to her as an actor. Cruz has Down syndrome. “I invited him to have coffee with me,” De Ferrari told Seven Days by email. “We sat down and talked, and for some reason, as I looked at him, I suddenly imagined him wearing the prince’s crown.” What could happen, she asked herself, if the famous words “To be or not to be” were spoken by a person with Down syndrome? She assembled seven actors who have the congenital condition, including Cruz, and one who has a cognitive disability. With their input, she wrote a new version of William Shakespeare’s most famous play. Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet has been staged in roughly 60 cities around the world since its 2019 premiere. The cast has never changed. Next week, the actors 44

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

come to Dartmouth College’s Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hanover, N.H., for two performances. Neither a presentation of Shakespeare’s original work nor a conventional adaptation, the show is performed in Spanish with English supertitles projected above the stage, incorporating video throughout. At one point in the show, as Cruz worries that he will not play Hamlet well, actors famous for the role appear on screen. In a video, an actor portraying Ian McKellen, who played Hamlet multiple times throughout his career, offers a nervous Cruz advice on playing the prince. In still another scene, about 40 people with Down syndrome fill the screen to augment the defiant energy of the cast members as they sing “No Soy Como los Demás” — “I’m Not Like the Others” — by Peruvian garage-rock band the Manganzoides. The life-affirming show, the New York Times notes, “ends with a dance party, not a stage full of corpses.” In an email interview with Seven Days, De Ferrari discussed the production that

the Guardian called “as playful as it is intellectual.” Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet has been called an adaptation of Hamlet. How do you describe it? I would call it a very free version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The performance moves constantly between Shakespeare and the lives of the actors. Scenes from the play coexist with personal testimonies, music, dance, video and direct conversations with the audience. Perhaps the simplest way to describe it is this: Eight performers take possession of Hamlet and use it to speak about themselves and about the world in which they live. Why did you choose Hamlet as the basis of the show? Hamlet is an iconic, extraordinarily powerful work, a play to which we have assigned enormous cultural value. And I was interested in placing a work of such value in the hands of a group of people to whom society has historically assigned

very little value. Hamlet is also an iconic role, one that has been played by some of the world’s most celebrated, prestigious and conventionally beautiful actors. I was interested in entering into a dialogue with that tradition. What happens when we place Hamlet in bodies in which we are not accustomed to recognizing beauty, power or virtuosity? Can we find beauty where we have not been taught to look for it? Can we reconsider what we understand as power, beauty and artistic excellence? Once we began working with the actors, I also discovered extraordinary connections between Shakespeare’s play and their own lives. Hamlet is constantly being watched. People make decisions about him, interpret his behavior and question his capacity to act. The love between Hamlet and Ophelia is supervised. Polonius believes he has the right to decide whom his daughter can love. In different ways, many of our actors recognized those situations immediately. And then, of course, there is the most famous question in Western theatre: “To be or not to be?” When that question is spoken by people whose very existence has historically been questioned, controlled and even prevented, it acquires another dimension. Did the actors help write the script? Yes, although not in the conventional sense of sitting down together and writing a script. The dramaturgy emerged from a long rehearsal process. We talked, improvised, asked questions, shared memories and explored scenes from Shakespeare. We created different exercises and situations in rehearsal that would generate material we could draw from. The actors were at the center of that process: Their stories, their ideas, their interests, their complaints, their humor, even their musical choices became material for the piece. There was also an associate directing and dramaturgy team, and everyone contributed ideas and helped shape what was emerging in the rehearsal room. So the final piece is a combination of Shakespeare’s text, the material and ideas that came from the actors, and the contributions of the directing and dramaturgy team. In that sense, although I was the person who wrote the script, the work could never have been written without them. ➆ This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet, Wednesday, September 30, and Thursday, October 1, 7:30 p.m., at the Moore Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. A Q&A with the company follows the Wednesday performance, and a meet and greet follows the Thursday show. $15-45. hop.dartmouth.edu

Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays + quiet Mondays / 10 am – 5 pm

CULTURALLY

Sept 11 – Oct 11, 2026

Timely takes on Vermont’s creative realm

Patty Hudak, Kites and Darts 1, 2023

Kents’ Corner State Historic Site 7 Old West Church Road, Calais, VT

BY DAN BOLLES • dan@sevendaysvt.com COURTESY

With media support from

Vermont writers present their work

Don’t Forget to Write SEPTEMBER 27 Jordan Patchen Levin

Ted Levin Emma Paris

Please visit kentscorner.org for more information

Reception to follow at the Throughlines exhibit Frank Bryan and Bill Mares

FALL 2026 Photo: Mary Elder Jacobsen

relevant

OLD WEST CHURCH 758 Old West Church Road, Calais, Vermont

Getting Real: What Frank Bryan and Bill Mares’ 1983 Humor Book Has to Say About Present-Day Vermont By any reasonable accounting, I am a Vermonter. I’ve spent roughly threequarters of my life in the Green Mountain State. I fumbled my way through middle and high school and (briefly) college in Chittenden County. I’ve held down steady jobs and been fired from a few others. I own a house. I pay taxes. I vote, even in primaries and midterms. I can use a chainsaw, drive a tractor and shoot a rifle. Yet, for all that, I am not a real Vermonter. And I never will be. For starters, I wasn’t born here, which is the first and most basic criterion determining which Vermonters are or aren’t “real.” More rigid interpretations suggest one’s family must run several generations deep to qualify — though how many is never clear. (I suspect our friends in Vermont’s Indigenous communities might have some thoughts on the matter. But that’s a column for another day.) So what is a “real” Vermonter, really? In an age when identity is at the core of so many social and political quandaries, it’s worth asking. And, as with most of

the day’s thorniest issues, the past is a good place to seek answers. In 1983, Vermont intellectuals BILL MARES and FRANK BRYAN released the first of many collaborations, a collection of cheeky essays, lists and quizzes called Real Vermonters Don’t Milk Goats. The title riffed on Bruce Feirstein’s bestselling humor book Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche, published the year before. But instead of satirizing American masculinity, Burlington neighbors Mares and Bryan trained their considerable wits on Vermont tropes — perhaps inventing a few along the way. Chapter headings advise that real Vermonters don’t ski at Stowe, shop at the co-op, drive Volvos or wear L.L.Bean boots. Other sections outline real Vermonters’ belief systems, political values and their list of all-time enemies — watch your back, Maine. Originally published by the New England Press, the slim tome was a local sensation, selling between 50,000 and 70,000 copies. It put Mares and Bryan on Vermont’s cultural map. Journalist and photographer Mares

SO WHAT IS A “REAL” VERMONTER, REALLY?

CULTURALLY RELEVANT

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JOIN THE FUN! Run or walk at this year’s Chase Away 5K fun run to benefit Chase Away K9 Cancer. • Preregister at runsignup.com/chaseaway5K or at the event • September 27, 2026 | 9 am start • Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington • Friendly, leashed dogs welcome

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

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culture

The Helpers

Bess O’Brien’s new film, Every Day: Big and Small, shines a light on Vermonters creating community, resilience and joy BY K E N P IC AR D • ken@sevendaysvt.com

COURTESY OF MARY CLAIRE CARROLL

he late Fred Rogers, creator and host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” once recalled that “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Filmmaker Bess O’Brien has plenty of experience in “looking for the helpers.” For the past three decades, she has made award-winning documentaries about Vermont’s social ills and the people whose lives they consume. Her 2003 film Here Today and 2013’s The Hungry Heart highlighted the devastating consequences of heroin and prescription pill addiction, respectively, for everyday Vermonters. All of Me (2016) focused on young women and men trapped in the downward spiral of eating disorders. And her 2024 documentary, Just Getting By, profiled Vermonters struggling with food and housing insecurity. While various types of “helpers” often feature in O’Brien’s work, in her latest project she spotlights the helpers themselves. The idea struck in November 2024, when the Barnet filmmaker had completed a statewide tour of Just Getting By and Donald Trump was reelected president. “The next four years are going to be hell,” O’Brien remembers thinking. “I was feeling the doom of where our country was going.” For the benefit of her own mental health and that of viewers, O’Brien said, she decided her next movie wouldn’t be another deep dive into Vermonters’ pain and misery. Instead, she wanted to highlight people who are doing good deeds, bridging cultural divides, building community and bringing joy to others. “I wanted to be shooting a film and have a smile on my face the entire time,” she said. The result is Every Day: Big and Small, O’Brien’s love letter to the state of Vermont, which begins a screening tour on Friday, September 25. Unlike her previous documentaries, this one has no central characters or narrative, instead resembling a collection of short stories. Its 18 vignettes were shot around the state, capturing

FILM

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Bess O’Brien

COURTESY

Sara McMahon (right) at the Movement for Parkinson’s class in South Burlington

fly-on-the-wall moments when people came together, helped each other out, or just gathered to be themselves and have fun. One major impetus for the film was the catastrophic, back-to-back floods of July 2023 and 2024, stories of which bookend the film. Every Day: Big and Small is

dedicated to the memory of Dylan Kempton, the 33-year-old Peacham man who died on July 10, 2024, when floodwaters swept him away in an off-road vehicle. The 90-minute documentary begins at the Peacham property of Jenny and John Mackenzie, schoolteachers who lost their

home and most of their possessions in the July 2024 flood. In the midst of this devastation, the flood also delivered an unexpected gift: a deep connection to their neighbors. “It’s a weird dichotomy,” John says in the film. “I’d lost everything, but I hadn’t lost anything. It was extraordinary.” The outpouring of community support during the floods, as people mucked out their neighbors’ basements, delivered food, cared for others’ pets and stored personal belongings, became an aha moment for other Vermonters, too. “But guess what?” O’Brien said. “This is happening all around us every day. We just don’t notice it.” Every Day: Big and Small features a visit to Amy’s Armoire in Barre, which sells and gives away children’s clothes, furniture and other youth items, from cribs to prom dresses, to people in need. Less like a thrift store than a community center, Amy’s Armoire offers its clients a sense of comfort and security. One man in the film, who started going there for his kids after his release from prison, says tearfully, “It’s not just what [Amy’s Armoire] gives me. It’s emotionally so warming. I haven’t had anyone like that in my world.” O’Brien also spent time at the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury, where a group of young women preparing to graduate from a local high school discuss plans for the future. After sharing some prom pictures shot on a hay wagon — “No tractor oil on my prom dress this year!” one of the girls exclaims — many express a desire to return to Vermont after college and work on their families’ farms. From there, the film moves to Swanton, where another group of young women is building a single-engine airplane as part of a Habitat for Aviation project. O’Brien also drops in on a teen center in St. Johnsbury; a Movement for Parkinson’s dance class in South Burlington; a Pride rally in Barre; a drag show at the Elks Lodge in Rutland; and a small military museum in Danville, set up in an aluminum trailer by 15-year-old Luke Morrison, who is obsessed with U.S. military veterans and their memorabilia.

COURTESY OF KINGDOM COUNTY PRODUCTIONS

TRUE TO THE CONSUMER. TRUE TO THE FARMER. TRUE TO THE ART. 132 Church Street, upstairs

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802.540.1420 Jenny and John Mackenzie

Every Day: Big and Small has a minimalist, almost ethereal feel: O’Brien provides no narration or on-screen text to inform viewers where they are or who is speaking. While the effect is slightly disorienting at first, the filmmaker offers enough aural and visual cues to allow viewers to quickly grasp the sentiments she captures. In an interview, O’Brien described the film as a visual journey across Vermont in an almost dreamlike state, without the intrusion of textual information every few minutes. It’s not until the closing credits that the viewer learns who these people are and with which businesses and organizations they’re affiliated. The film is less about telling a story than creating a mood, she added. Once the viewer catches on, the transitions — from a kids’ yoga class at Wolcott Elementary School to a men’s group for domestic violence offenders in St. Johnsbury to fourwheel drivers gunning their engines at Goss’s Mud Bog in Barnet — feel seamless. Some of the vignettes could have been expanded into stand-alone documentaries, O’Brien noted. One features the High Horses Center for Equine-Assisted Services in Sharon, where we meet Gayle Smith, 78, a retired Army nurse who served in a MASH unit in South Vietnam. It was there that she met her husband, Dr. Matthew Friedman, a psychiatrist and national expert on posttraumatic stress disorder, who went on to found the National Center for PTSD in White River Junction. Most of those details aren’t mentioned in the film. What matters is that Smith, who for many years hid her status as a Vietnam vet, still struggles with PTSD and

benefits tremendously from the equineassisted therapy at the High Horses Center. “The horse knows how I feel before I know how I feel,” she explains in the film. “When I’m sad, they’re so kind and gentle. They’re like, I’ll take care of you. And they 8V-shelplayers092326 1 always do.” O’Brien also visits a Writers for Recovery group, a project she cofounded with writer and teacher Gary Miller in July 2014, a year after the release of The Hungry Heart. The nonprofit hosts creative writing workshops to help people healing from substance-use disorder, trauma and addiction. Some of the group’s prose, penned by clients with little or no prior writing experience, is powerful stuff. “My greatest gift to humanity is my self-realization that I know just enough to know that I know nothing,” group member Mike reads aloud to the others. “There is a limitless expanse between myself and perfection. One day I may briefly bridge that gap.” When Mike is done, Miller offers all the writers a final word of encouragement, one that also encapsulates the film’s message: “We all have something the world needs. So let’s bring it.” ➆

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

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True conservation provides for wise use by the general public. The American people do not want our resources preserved for the exclusive use of the wealthy. These land and water resources belong to the people, and people of all income levels should have easy access to them.

INFO

— GEORGE AIKEN

GOVERNOR OF VERMONT 1937-1941 UNITED STATES SENATE 1941-1975

Every Day: Big and Small, Friday, September 25, 7 p.m., at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington; Saturday, September 26, 7 p.m., at Williston Central School; and Sunday, September 27, 7 p.m., at Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury. $15. For advance tickets and additional screening dates, visit catamountarts.org/film. 4T-sweeney092326.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/14/26 2:18 PM

culture

Secret Santa

Three questions for M.T. Anderson on his new nonfiction book, Stealing Saint Nick B Y M ARG OT HAR RI S ON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

TO UNDERSTAND EVEN THIS WHIMSICAL FIGURE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND

RISE AND FALL OF NATIONS, EMPIRES AND ENTIRE RELIGIONS. M . T. A N DE R SO N

nonfiction version for people young and old which took a historical approach to the real life of Santa Claus and the theft of his corpse. In Stealing Saint Nick, I have tried to combine three types of evidence to tell this story: the written narratives (and surviving contracts and payment stubs), the archaeological evidence at the crime scene, and the modern forensic evidence from Santa Claus’ postmortem. (Yes. That’s real.)

s the holiday season approaches, and we all brace for the onslaught of “Santa Baby” in every public space, East Calais author M.T. Anderson is asking the real questions. Namely, who was the historical Santa Claus, did he actually give people gifts, how did he become an icon of seasonal commerce, and where do his remains reside? (Hint: not at the North Pole.) In his new nonfiction book, Stealing Saint Nick: A Legendary Corpse, a Notorious Theft, and the Stories That Shape the World, the National Book Award winner traces the 1,700-year history of Saint Nicholas, from his life in fourth-century Anatolia to the daring theft of his bones from his homeland during the Crusades to his 19th-century American transformation into a jolly old elf. In the book, Anderson describes the Santa saga as “a wild tale of demons, saints, gods, monsters, and holy spells,” and he isn’t exaggerating. But, he notes, “it is also a story of politics: empires falling — cities fighting for mastery — merchants using a dead saint’s body as a pawn in games of wealth and power.” Published by a young adult imprint but equally appropriate for adults, Stealing Saint Nick is as gleefully witty as it’s revelatory. Between the jokes, it asks serious questions about why our often ungenerous and

BOOKS

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

brutal species idolizes saints and heroes who represent the opposite qualities. Anderson, who will read from the book at several local events, answered three questions about it for us. You also wrote a novel for adults loosely based on the theft of Saint Nicholas’ bones, Nicked, published in 2024 and a Vermont Book Award finalist. Which came first for you, the fiction or the nonfiction, and how are they related? I had read these bizarre, forgotten stories about Saint Nicholas — stories of him confronting a demon goddess and a serial killer couple, for example — and I decided they might be the basis for a book. As I did research, I came across a brief mention of this unbelievable story: Two Italian cities, Bari and Venice, raced to be the first to steal his corpse from his tomb. Immediately, I knew I wanted to give that story a fictional glow-up and turn it into a heist novel. It became Nicked, which is a monastic rom-com and a swashbuckling, action-movie meditation on what it means to have a corruptible body. While I did the research into the real heist, though, I discovered two documents in Latin that had never been translated. They actually told a somewhat different story about the heist, a more nuanced one. I decided to write a

COURTESY OF ERIN THOMPSON

M.T. Anderson

This book is rich in surprising and entertaining facts, but what’s one core idea you hope readers will take away from it? It’s really a book about how we build different kinds of heroes at different times in history. Saint Nicholas first appeared in the fourth century, a moment when the old idea of classical heroism — things like The Odyssey, that old swords-and-sandals heroism — was replaced by the idea of martyrdom, the victim as hero. He was reinterpreted several times, becoming, in the 19th and 20th centuries, Santa Claus, the patron saint of commercial consumerism. I’m fascinated by the way that to understand even this whimsical figure, you have to understand the rise and fall of nations, empires and entire religions. When did you stop believing in Santa Claus (if you did), and why? What do you think it means to believe? Just at the point where I was about to become an unbeliever, my dad intervened by stomping some boots in soot and then leaving footprints going from the fireplace to the tree. That delayed my apostasy for, like, a year or two. But I still believe Saint Nicholas was a fascinating and generous person who transformed the places around him — a true hero, though steeped in myth. ➆ This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO Stealing Saint Nick: A Legendary Corpse, a Notorious Theft, and the Stories That Shape the World by M.T. Anderson, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 272 pages. $20.99. Anderson will discuss the book on Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m., at Bear Pond Books in Montpelier; Tuesday, October 13, 6:30 p.m., at Wild Meadows Books & Café in Williston; Thursday, October 22, 7 p.m., at Shelburne Town Hall, presented by Flying Pig Bookstore; and Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m., at Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick. Free. mtanderson.com

CULTURALLY relevant « P.45

pages. $13.

was an insatiably curious polymath who served as a state legislator and was a high school history teacher, avid beekeeper and brewer, among myriad other pursuits. He died of cancer in 2024, and his 18th and final book, 2050: Vermonters Take a Swipe at the Future, was released posthumously last year. Bryan was an esteemed political science professor at the University of Vermont for 36 years until his retirement in 2013. Now living out of the public eye in rural Vermont, he is still regarded as one of the country’s preeminent political scholars and thinkers. Also: Neither was a real Vermonter. Mares was from Texas. Bryan grew up in Vermont but was born just over the border in New Hampshire. They were flatlanders or — as Mares’ wife, CHRIS HADSEL, put it — “Vermonters by choice.” Earlier this month, Onion River Press published a 43rd-anniversary edition of Real Vermonters Don’t Milk Goats. Hadsel has organized several book parties that will take place around the state over the next two months, including an official launch this Sunday, September 27, at the Alchemist in Stowe, hosted by RUSTY DEWEES. (She also noted that copies of the book will temporarily be limited for a week or two, due to a printing error.) Why mark the 43rd anniversary? “Well, why not?” Hadsel replied in a recent phone interview. As a real Vermonter might say, “Ayuh.” The new version contains all the original material, including Bryan and Mares’ numerous footnotes and artist HOWARD JOHNSON’s illustrations. Because some of the references are dated, especially for anyone born after the 1980s, Hadsel and others wrote additional footnote explainers to clue younger readers in to the importance of people such as late local radio DJ RUSTY PARKER. New footnotes also fill us in on the fates of some Vermonters, real and otherwise, at whom the original book poked fun. For then-Burlington mayor BERNIE SANDERS to be fully embraced as a Vermonter, Bryan and Mares wrote, he “must (1) renounce socialism and (2) shed his accent.” “That’s one they got wrong,” Hadsel joked. Some of the humor in Real Vermonters might ring quaint to more cynical modern sensibilities, but much of it still resonates. Among the list of “What Real Vermonters Dread the Most” are reappraisal, zoning and “A weather report that begins ‘Only a dusting is expected…’”

RealIN Vermonters Milk Goats Celebration hosted by Rusty OTHERDon’t NEWS… DeWees, Sunday, September 27, 10 a.m., at the Alchemist in MAKENNA GOODMAN’s breakout novel, Helenfor of details. Nowhere, Stowe. Email realvermonters43@gmail.com is not moving on to the next round of consideration for this year’s Booker Prize. The Montpelier author’s second book was long-listed for the prestigious award in July but wasn’t among the six finalists announced on Tuesday. That’s a bummer, but we imagine Goodman is taking it in stride, like she seems to do with most things. As she told CHELSEA EDGAR of her approach to writing in August, “I’m kind of just letting it happen and trusting that in the living is the writing.”

If you haven’t caught HBO’s “A Killer Story,” it wouldn’t kill you to try. The three-part docuseries premiered earlier this month and is drawing rave reviews. Seven Days staff writer KEN PICARD, for one, calls it “funny, compelling, irreverent and a great bit of journalism.” It also has a local connection. The series follows Vermont journalist and occasional Seven Days contributor JOE SEXTON as he investigates the case of DANA CHANDLER, a woman twice convicted of murdering her husband and his girlfriend in Kansas. But, according to an obsessive source who hounds Sexton, Chandler is innocent, and the tipster claims she can prove it. The series finale airs this Thursday, September 24, on HBO and streaming on HBO Max.

The updated edition closes with two new essays about the authors. DON HOOPER, a Statehouse colleague who illustrated and coauthored with Mares the 2021 book I Could Hardly Keep From Laughing: An Illustrated Collection of Vermont Humor, writes about his late friend, while UVM colleague RICHARD WATTS profiles Bryan. Both essays affectionately sketch the book’s authors as thoughtful men who cared greatly for their adopted home state and reveled in its quirks and authenticity. That fondness helps explain why a book playfully mocking Vermont was such a hit: We tease the ones we love. Another, more subtle thread running through both the original book and its additions is that being a Vermonter actually has nothing to do with where you’re born. A real Vermonter can be from anywhere — the Northeast Kingdom, New York City, a village in Mexico. It’s what you do when you’re here that counts. ➆

INFO

Real Vermonters Don’t Milk Goats by Frank Bryan and Bill Mares with illustrations by Howard Johnson, Onion River Press, 109

Eva Sollberger’s

Supported by:

Watch at: sevendaysvt.com/stuckinvt 4H-Stuckinvt091626.indd 1

Sad news from the local lit world: Earlier this month, Vermont Almanac announced that the current incarnation of the nonprofit organization will end without publishing a 2026 edition. In an email, cofounder DAVE MANCE III cited fatigue, health issues and the retirements of a few key players as driving factors. Since launching in 2020, the Almanac has produced a new annual volume every December, featuring stories, photos, illustrations and data collected throughout the previous year. In the email, Mance expressed hope that someone else might pick up the mantle and keep the Almanac going in future years. Finally, remember ABIGAIL BRESLIN? The actor is best known for her Oscar-nominated turn as a child beauty pageant contestant in the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine. But she’s worked steadily since then in movies and TV, most notably in the Zombieland film and video game franchise. Breslin will be in Vermont next month as executive producer on a short horror film shooting in and around Bakersfield called “Bearing the Dead.” Much of the crew will be local, which should be music to the ears of the Vermont moviemaking crowd. “Modern Family” star NOLAN GOULD cowrote the film with actor, screenwriter and Vermont native PARKER CROFT. ROSARIO DAWSON has also signed on as an executive producer. Plot details are thin as of this writing, except for this brief logline: “A rookie death investigator discovers the corpse she’s transporting gasping for air.” Well, that can’t be good…

WATCH HER LATEST VIDEO! The fourth annual Witches’ Walk, held on September 12 in North Pownal, drew a large crowd of costumed witches of all ages. The Pownal Historical Society organized the event to remember Margaret Krieger, a widow tried for witchcraft around 1785. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger donned a witch hat and met some truly extraordinary women. 9/21/26 3:37 PM SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026 49

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on screen

Austin Abrams plays a hapless Gen Z courier trying to survive an apocalyptic plague in Zach Cregger’s horror reboot.

Resident Evil ★★★★

“

hat’s the appeal of Resident Evil movies?” I asked in 2012, the one time I reviewed an entry in the six-film series based on Capcom’s apocalyptic video game. I concluded that it was about the global translatability of watching “[Milla] Jovovich in blackleather quasi-bondage gear doing acrobatics while firing her gun,” unhampered by meaningful dialogue or character development. After an unsuccessful attempt to reboot the series in 2021, Hollywood has returned to the well with a new secret weapon: horror auteur Zach Cregger, of Barbarian and last year’s Oscar-winning Weapons. A fan of the game series, Cregger described his reboot to horror media website Bloody Disgusting last year as a “love letter” to the franchise that would be “fucking awesome.”

REVIEW

The deal

Young medical courier Bryan (Austin Abrams) isn’t having a great night. Snow is falling hard, hospital staff are rude to him, 50

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

and his girlfriend (voice of Sara Paxton) wants him to come home so they can discuss the results of her pregnancy test. Bryan doesn’t feel ready for that conversation, so he jumps on the opportunity to make an important delivery to Raccoon General Hospital for double pay. Driving through the snowy mountains, he accidentally hits a woman (Andrea Miltner) who’s wandering around in a summer dress, seemingly catatonic. Bryan seeks help from a passing cop (Johnno Wilson), but the woman brutally attacks them both, forcing Bryan to seek refuge in a nearby farmhouse. There he must fight off a guard dog who is … not quite a dog, only to learn that the house’s inhabitants have met a gruesome fate. “It’s not real,” Bryan assures himself as he dashes from one bizarre peril to the next. But there’s trouble with a capital T, right here in Raccoon City, and the item in his delivery satchel could have something to do with it.

Will you like it?

You don’t need to be a gamer to appreciate the stripped-down storytelling of Cregger’s

Resident Evil (cowritten with Shay Hatten). Events take place in close to real time. Bryan anchors every scene, and it’s best not to get attached to anyone he encounters, since other characters tend to exit promptly and horrifically. While Paul W.S. Anderson’s Resident Evil series offered action epics crowded with lore, this is a stoner tall tale with a bemused everyman narrator. We know only what Bryan knows about the zombie-like plague afflicting Raccoon City — very little. We care only for what he cares about — his survival, but also how miserable it is to run around in wet socks. From the opening tracking shot, which follows Bryan through busy hospital hallways, Cregger plays on the visual conventions of a third-person shooter game. But Bryan isn’t the typical seasoned, battleready hero. On the contrary, he bumbles around like a doomed non-player character — accidentally shooting out his own engine, foolishly tossing away equipment he needs to escape, and keeping up a muttered monologue of denial and grievance. We like Bryan because Abrams plays him as a guileless, selfish but basically decent man-child, and we root for him because he’s ridiculously outmatched — a comedy protagonist stuck in a nightmarish survival story. The scenes in which he grapples with a Rube Goldberg-esque array

of physical obstacles — padlocked gates are his special nemesis — are actually tenser than the monster attacks. And funnier, because who can’t relate? Resident Evil has well-timed jump scares, and the early scenes in the countryside will give viewers the shivers. Once the nature of the threat is revealed, the movie shifts from minimalist spookiness into maximalist body horror mode, with impressive practical effects involving tentacles, acid vomit and buckets of blood. The gory pageant is fun (for genre fans, anyway), but is it scary? Not terribly, and Cregger doesn’t do anything with the unsettling suggestion that the film’s villain is artificial intelligence run amok, trying to “perfect” human bodies by collaging them into new organisms. (Since 1996, the games have centered on a high-tech biohazard created by a pharmaceutical corporation.) It’s hard not to draw parallels to current fears about real-life AI, but the movie’s messaging stays on a Screenwriting 101 level. (Believe it or not, Bryan finally matures enough to get his priorities straight.) Resident Evil is a devilishly effective thrill ride, and for many viewers, that will be more than enough. Certainly, it entertained me better than Jovovich doing The Matrix with zombies. If this movie has a theme, beyond “Don’t trust medical bureaucracy or corporate bullshit,” it’s that horror meets comedy in the realm of the absurd, where our noble, pathetic human flailing just keeps digging us deeper into cesspits of gore. Whether our hapless hero prevails or not, his doggedness is an inspiration to us all. MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY… EVIL DEAD II (1987; HBO Max, Philo, YouTube Primetime, rentable): In the Bloody Disgusting interview, Cregger aptly compared his Resident Evil to Sam Raimi’s classic combination of horror and slapstick. GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE (2025; Disney+, Hulu, rentable): Another “apocalypse comedy” is Gore Verbinski’s underrated film about a time traveler recruiting a motley group to save humanity. If you also saw the threat in Resident Evil as artificial intelligence, you may enjoy how this movie explicitly makes AI the villain. WEAPONS (2025; HBO Max, YouTube Primetime, rentable): Abrams is slyly funny as James, the vagrant burglar, in Cregger’s movie about a town terrorized by the disappearance of a class of third graders, which starts like horror and ends like dark comedy.

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RUNNERHHH A cartel attack complicates a life-saving organ delivery in Scott Waugh’s action comedy. (97 min, PG-13. Majestic, Welden) SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOMHHHH An attempt to fix the farm’s pumpkin patch goes horribly awry in this stopmotion-animated twist on Frankenstein. (80 min, PG. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis) SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAYHHH1/2 Can Peter Parker (Tom Holland) stay under the radar? (145 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Sunset)

Primetime

NEW IN THEATERS CHARLIE HARPER: A young couple (Emilia Jones and Nick Robinson) face challenges after moving to a new city in Tom Dean and Mac Eldridge’s romance. (102 min, R. Majestic) FORGOTTEN ISLAND: Two friends get trapped in a world that steals their memories in this DreamWorks animation featuring the voices of H.E.R. and Liza Soberano. (109 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset, Welden) HA-CHAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY!: Rinko Kukuchi plays a grieving dancer in Josef Kubota Wladyka’s drama set in Tokyo’s competitive ballroom scene. (122 min, R. Essex, Partizanfilm) HEART OF THE BEAST: A Special Forces officer (Brad Pitt) and his dog must survive in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash in David Ayer’s adventure drama. (101 min, PG-13. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star)

THE UPRISINGHHH Andrew Garfield and Jamie Bell star in this historical drama about England’s Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips) directed. (127 min, R. Majestic, Playhouse)

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THE WEIGHTHHH1/2 Ethan Hawke plays a desperate war vet hired to smuggle gold across the Depression-era U.S. in Padraic McKinley’s adventure drama, with Russell Crowe. (115 min, R. Capitol, Majestic)

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THE BAKER’S WIFE (Partizanfilm, Wed 23 only) BARBARA FOREVER (VTIFF, Fri & Sat only) THE BROOD (Catamount, Fri only) CARS 20TH ANNIVERSARY (Majestic, Sunset) A CELL PHONE MOVIE (Catamount, Sat only) LEMONADE BLESSING (Savoy, Thu only)

PRIMETIME: Robert Pattinson plays “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen in Lance Oppenheim’s fact-based drama about the perils of turning crime into ratings. With Merritt Wever and Skyler Gisondo. (110 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm, Savoy, Sunset)

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2026 (Majestic)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

(* = upcoming schedule for theater could not be confirmed at press time)

BUDDYHHH1/2 Kids must escape a deadly children’s TV show in this indie slasher. (95 min, R. Majestic)

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

COYOTE VS. ACMEHHHH Looney Tunes’ Wile E. Coyote sues the Acme corporation in this live action/ animated comedy. (101 min, PG. Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden) DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGERHHHH This documentary chronicles the rise of the band Oasis and their Live ’25 tour. (122 min, R. Majestic) THE END OF OAK STREETHHH1/2 A family must cope when their suburban home lands in a monster-filled dimension. (99 min, PG-13. Sunset; reviewed 8/19) HOPEHHH1/2 Something monstrous invades an isolated village in this sci-fi action thriller from Na Hong-jin (The Wailing), starring Hwang Jun-min, Zo In-sung and Michael Fassbender. (160 min, R. Partizanfilm, Savoy) THE MARCHING BAND: In this comedy from France, a famous classical conductor (Benjamin Lavernhe) learns he has a musician brother in far humbler circumstances. (102 min, NR. Catamount [starts Fri], Partizanfilm [ends Thu]) THE ODYSSEYHHHH Christopher Nolan takes on the Homeric epic of a weary warrior (Matt Damon) trying to return home. (180 min, R. Majestic; reviewed 7/22) PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIEHH1/2 The team must save a dinosaur island in this family adventure. (88 min, PG. Majestic) PRACTICAL MAGIC 2HHH Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock reprise their roles as sister witches in Susanne Bier’s legacy sequel. (110 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 9/16) RESIDENT EVILHHHH Cowriter-director Zach Cregger (Weapons) offers his cinematic take on the zombie horror game franchise, starring Austin Abrams. (90 min, R. Bijou, Essex, City Cinema, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 9/23)

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/18/26 5:00 PM

COURTESY

art A Happy Place

Seven questions for Middlebury College Museum of Art’s new director BY PA M EL A PO LSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

BARKUN HEADSHOT COURTESY OF BERNARDO MORILLO

Middlebury College Museum of Art

arlier this year, Middlebury College Museum of Art hired a new permanent director, Deborah Barkun, who succeeds interim director Katy Smith Abbott. In its April announcement, search committee chair Erin Sassin lauded Barkun’s “experience developing innovative and collaborative exhibitions and programming with students and faculty.” For an academic museum with a strong interdisciplinary focus, this might have sealed the deal. But Sassin, who is an associate professor in the history of art and architecture, further emphasized Barkun’s commitment to “the transformative power of art in a liberal arts education.” In an interview with Seven Days at her new office last week, Barkun, who is in her fifties, said an academic museum is her “happy place.” It seems like she’ll fit right in. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., Barkun acknowledged that on paper she looks like a Pennsylvanian: undergrad at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh; master’s and doctorate at Bryn Mawr College; associate professor at Ursinus College and creative director of its Berman Museum of Art in Collegeville, outside of Philadelphia. Now she’s a freshly minted Vermonter — but no stranger to the Green Mountain State; her family vacationed here every summer as 52

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

she was growing up. “We would to the Johnson Memorial come to a different part of Building, in 2029. The the state each year,” she 35,000- square -foot said. museum — anchored Barkun noted that by a $20 million gift her partner, docufrom former Midd mentary filmmaker student Charles A. Bernardo Morillo, Davis and his wife, will soon join her, Marna — will provide along with the couple’s ample quarters for greyhound. This year, exhibitions, events, they’ll rent a place performances and the from the college. “The growing collection. [Vermont] housing situation Though the new was a surprise,” she construction was observed. conceived before Having only seen she got here, Barkun Vermont at its most said there’s “still a lot verdant, Barkun is eager of work to be done, to experience the fall tinkering about how foliage. Meantime, she’s to use the gallerbeen settling into her ies.” Before walking position, meeting staff Seven Days through and faculty members, the recently opened D E B ORA H B A RKUN and beginning to study Michelangelo Lovelace the museum’s 7,000-object archives. If exhibit, she talked about museums, liberal that were not daunting enough, Barkun arts and the importance of both. has arrived just in time for a museum sea change: a brand-new facility in a new At Ursinus, you had both faculty and location. curatorial roles. Will you be teaching The Marna O. Davis Museum is sched- here, too? uled to open on the main campus, adjacent Not teaching currently, but I’m directing

THIS IS A CHALLENGING TIME FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, AND

MANY SCHOOLS ARE ALLOWING THE ARTS TO ERODE.

and helping to develop the kinds of programs in collaboration with the team and working to engage as deeply as I can with faculty and students. I’d like to engage the departments that might not habitually use the museum. What was your art focus in school? As an undergrad, painting and printmaking. I was raised by a mother who was blind since birth. I grew up having to translate the visible world, with my sister. In retrospect, I think that fed into my focus on the visual world, maybe a little earlier than my peers. My parents were from Chicago, and we went there often [visiting museums]. I found my voice most effective describing other people’s art, so over time I gravitated in that direction. When I got to grad school, my comfort level was with living artists. My dissertation was on a contemporary art topic [at the National Gallery of Canada]. I’m interested in global contemporary art, with a heavy emphasis on North American, Canadian and Mexican. Do you still make art? No, there’s not enough time. Now I do studio visits. At Ursinus, I learned how uniquely transformative an academic museum can be. My two passions are museums and pedagogy.

Overbrook Gallery at Middlebury College Museum of Art

COURTESY OF ALLIED WORKS

COURTESY

ART SHOWS

A rendering of the proposed art museum

BURLINGTONCITYARTS.ORG WED & FRI: 12-5 PM SAT: 12-8 PM

4T-BCA092326 1

So what drew you to the position at Middlebury? When I read the job description, I was struck by the way it was described in creative terms as much as administrative. And when I read about the new museum and strategic plan for the college, I [realized] how Middlebury is doubling down on liberal arts. This is a challenging time for higher education, and many schools are allowing the arts to erode. Coming for my interview, I found I fit with the teams here. Why is the college building a new museum? Is this one too small? It was the vision of the former president, Laurie Patton. I think there is a desire of the faculty and board to present art as an asset and pivotal component of a liberal education. And it will better serve everyone for it to be in the center, where students are traversing around campus. There will be a café space, a media gallery, more visible operations — more opportunities for social engagement as well as learning. And, yes, it is a perpetual problem for museums: outgrowing the facility, storage. Did you have teaching or curatorial positions at other institutions prior to Ursinus? Yes, I did some work at independent-run

BCA CENTER BCA’s fall exhibitions are supported in part by the Maslow Family Foundation. Hospitality 135 Church Street sponsors: Sugarsnap and Lake Champlain Chocolates. Burlington City Arts is supported in Burlington, VT 05401 part by the Vermont Arts Council & the National Endowment for the Arts.

9/16/26 10:08 AM

galleries in Philadelphia. I was involved in a longtime environmental project that originated in Cork, Ireland. [Barkun was also a visiting scholar in Hong Kong in 2015.] How would you describe your curatorial approach? [It] has always been interdisciplinary — what affects us globally. Students are asking questions about this. We can present topical issues at the museum using visual and sonic materials. Art and artists can be catalysts for addressing difference. The problems now are so vast, a single discipline alone can no longer answer the questions. Art [provides] an opportunity to have that kind of discourse. Ideally, what I’d like to do is disarm people as to what a museum can offer. I want people in the Middlebury area — even if they’ve never been to a museum, known any artists or ever took an art class — to feel comfortable and welcome. ➆ This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO Middlebury College Museum of Art is currently showing “Michelangelo Lovelace: Art Saved My Life” through January 10. middlebury.edu/museum 4t-girlsniteout091629 1

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/11/26 4:20 PM

COURTESY

art SEP. 23-30 OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

through the design and creation of an ephemeral art installation made from innovative, natural and biodegradable biomaterials. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., Saturday, September 26, 1-3 p.m. By donation.

KATIE LOESEL: “Recorded Geology,” an exhibition exploring geological history, environmental change and human impact through abstraction, color and layering. Curated by Maedeh Asgharpour. Reception: Thursday, September 24, 5-6:30 p.m. South Burlington Public Art Gallery, through November 5.

‘EXPLORING YOUR INNER LANDSCAPES’: A hands-on workshop in which participants create mixed-media contour drawings using charcoal, watercolor and mixed media, emphasizing experimentation and discovery, led by Juanita Lanzo in conjunction with the exhibition “Formas Feroces y Tiernas” at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. River Gallery School, Brattleboro, Saturday, September 26, 2-4 p.m. $45; $35 for BMAC members.

‘PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE’: A group show celebrating ordinary, quirky and human experiences with works by Carolyn Mecklosky, Dusty Boynton, Elisabeth Mazzilli, Janet Van Fleet, Jonathan Rose, Mary Hill and Rett Sturman. Reception: Thursday, September 24, 5:30-7 p.m. River Arts, Morrisville, through November 6. ‘THE GEORGE FLOYD QUILTS’: Eleven pieces created by the Sacred Heart Quilt Ministry in an effort to spark conversation about racial and social injustice in our country following the tragic death of George Floyd. Closing reception and film screening: Friday, September 25, 5 p.m. Susan Calza Black Box Gallery, Visual Arts Center, Johnson, through September 25. ‘BARBERSHOP: THE ART OF QUEER FAILURE’: An interactive installation by artist Ace Lehner reimagining the traditional barbershop as a queer community space. The artist, who is not trained as a barber, offers haircuts to the public in return for a commitment to engage in an act of queer world making before their hair grows out. Opening performance: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. BCA Center, Burlington, September 25-October 3. GEORGE JACKMAN: An exhibition of photographs by the winner of last year’s “Photography Shootout” contest. Reception: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery, Waterbury, September 25-October 10. ANDREA KANTROWITZ AND JEESOO LEE: “Mapping Uncertainty,” explorations of perception, transformation, displacement and change through sumi ink landscapes by Kantrowitz and Lee’s delicate assemblages of translucent paper and thread. Reception: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., September 25-November 14. JIM JORDAN AND RACHEL JORDAN: “Past Forward,” an exhibition bringing together the artists’ work in a dialogue between memory, observation, history and abstraction. Reception: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., September 25-November 14. ‘A PLACE ONLY VISITED IN DREAMS’: A group show rooted in the legacy of surrealism and including works by 33 artists who are each interested in exploring the shifting terrain of the subconscious. Reception: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., through November 14. JASON PAPPAS: “Relics from the Human Age,” sculptures made from trees that fell on the artist’s property and that act as a historical record. Reception: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., September 25-November 14. LINDA BRYAN: “Falling Leaves,” an exploration of the fragile relationship between memory and evidence, drawing from family photographs, documents, objects and ephemera to consider how the stories we inherit can shift over time. Reception: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., September 25-November 14. MICAH WOOD: “The Long Hidden Friend,” paintings and drawings by the Montpelier artist that play on the complex nature of problem-solving. Reception: Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m. Extra Special With Cheese, Burlington, through October 10. ‘ART OFF THE WALL’: An art exhibition and benefit sale featuring works by southern Vermont artists and produced in collaboration with the Stone Village Art Guild. Reception: Saturday, September 26, 4-6 p.m. Whiting Library, Chester, through October 29. JIM WESTPHALEN: “Across This Land,” new works picturing rural landscapes by the acclaimed photographer. Reception: Saturday, September 26, 5-7 p.m. Front Four Gallery, Stowe, September 26-October 31. ‘MIGRATION/HOME’: An outdoor exhibition conceived by artist Jonathan Gitelson to mark America’s 250th birthday that fills the museum’s window bays with

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Ace Lehner

EXHIBITION

‘TATREEZ & TEA’: An opportunity to see the Palestinian art exhibition on its last day, drink tea and practice Palestinian embroidery. Supplies provided. Montgomery Center for the Arts, Sunday, September 27, noon-4 p.m. Free.

Fail Better A barbershop is perhaps the quintessential gendered space. Haircuts are often chosen from a poster picturing the same guy with different fades, each in a little box — an artifact University of Vermont art prof Ace Lehner describes as “a very minimal menu of masculinity.” Taking that as a point of departure, Lehner presents “Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure,” a pop-up project at BCA Center in Burlington that’s part performance, part installation and part social-practice piece. The artist — who is not a trained barber — gives participants haircuts in queer styles. In compensation, Lehner asks not for cash but for the coif’s recipient to engage in an act of queer world building before their ’do grows out: Examples include covering over anti-trans graffiti, volunteering at an LGBTQ center or teaching their relatives about pronouns. Everyone, no matter their gender, is welcome, and people watching the haircutting also become part of the salon-style conversation. The piece is based in “queer failure,” an idea from academic discourse. “It’s not actually failing,” Lehner said. “We’re failing intentionally because these normative, narrow boxes do not suit,” they added. “In failing to conform, we’re actually exploding open what is possible.”

‘BARBERSHOP: THE ART OF QUEER FAILURE’ On view September 25 to October 3. Reception and artist performance, Friday, September 25, 5-7 p.m.; artist on site, Thursday, October 1, 1-4 p.m.; closing performance, Saturday, October 3, 4-6 p.m., at BCA Center in Burlington. burlingtoncityarts.org

reproductions of artworks created by members of Brattleboro’s resettled refugee community. Reception: Sunday, September 27, 1 p.m. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, through November 1. ‘ANIMALS ON PAPER’: Works on paper by Hannah Clark, Briony Morrow-Cribbs and Eva Sturm-Gross, all Vermont printmakers with very different approaches to depicting animals. Reception: Friday, October 2, 5-7 p.m. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, September 24-October 31. ‘THE ARTIST NEXT DOOR’: Works by members of the central Vermont chapter of the Vermont Pastel Society. Reception: Friday, October 2, 5-7:30 p.m.; artist talk, 6 p.m. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, September 24-November 21. HOWARD NORMAN: “Rain Enters My Diary,” an exhibition of catalogs, essays, public talks and translations by the writer that accompany works by notable artists and luminaries such as Jane Rosen, Anatole Kaplan, Gabrielle Dietzel and David Bowie, taken from his personal collection of art and ephemera. Reception: Friday, October 2, 5-7:30 p.m.; artist talk, 6 p.m. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, September 24-November 21. ‘VAPA AT 50’: An exhibition considering the history and future of the college’s iconic Visual and Performing Arts Center and featuring archival documents and architectural models. Reception: Tuesday, November 3, 5:30-7 p.m. Suzanne Lemberg Usdan Gallery, Bennington, through December 5.

VISUAL ART EVENTS OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials avail-

GRAND OPENING: An event celebrating the new workshop space and the organization’s partnership with AVA Gallery and Art Center. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, Saturday, September 26, 5-8 p.m. Free.

able. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Thursday, September 24, 12:30-2:30 p.m. By donation. LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Thursday, September 24, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation. ARTIST TALK: BARBARA TAKENAGA: A discussion by the artist, who is known for her immersive, meticulous abstract paintings that draw upon the cosmic as well as the scientific, of the influences and ideas that have informed her practice over the past five decades. A reception follows in the museum’s Russo Atrium. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Friday, September 25, 5-6 p.m. Free. NORMAN ROCKWELL DAY: A celebration of the beloved illustrator in conjunction with the exhibition “Norman Rockwell: At Home in Vermont,” including a Friday talk by Russell Lord, chief of curatorial affairs at Norman Rockwell museum; drop-in art making of Rockwell-inspired scenes; figure drawing and a panel and gathering of Rockwell models from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Shelburne Museum, Friday, September 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 26, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free for members and with museum admission; preregister for some programs. ARTIST TALK: JUANCARLOS GONZALEZ: A conversation with the photographer about his relationship with Vermont and how it has shaped the way he photographs here, along with how the light, weather, seasons and place influence his work. Bryan Fine Art Gallery, Stowe, Saturday, September 26, 1-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. HANDS-ON COMMUNITY BIOMATERIAL SCUPTURE WORKSHOP: A workshop led by Lia Rothstein that explores the creative possibilities of sustainable art

RICHMOND ART CRAWL: An annual family-friendly celebration of the town’s creative community, including 45 artists and vendors of handcrafted goods, 14 booths for creative youths, food, and activities for kids, starting at Richmond Town Center, 203 Bridge Street. Various Richmond locations, Sunday, September 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. SOCIAL SUNDAY: An opportunity for children and caregivers to stop in and complete a 15- to 30-minute activity during the two-hour workshop. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, Sunday, September 27, 1-3 p.m. Free. PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, September 28, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation. EXHIBITION TOUR: A collaborative tour and in-depth conversation by the curators of art as a channel for understanding experiences of migration as seen in the exhibitions “Shared Ground: Asian American Art in Conversation” and “Community and Exile: Paris, 19101939.” Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Wednesday, September 30, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free.

CALLS TO ARTISTS 45TH MEMBERS’ ART SHOW AND SALE: Seeking submissions of works in all mediums by the organization’s artist members for inclusion in the annual exhibition, which runs from November 5 to December 12. Deadline: September 28. The Current, Stowe. Free for members; annual membership starts at $60. ‘CELEBRATE!’: Now accepting submissions for the annual members’ show, which takes place during the holiday season across all three floors of the art center. Deadline: October 9. Studio Place Arts, Barre. Free for members; $35 for new members. ‘FALL OF FREEDOM/REIMAGINING THE FLAG’: Artists are invited to submit work that explores, questions, reclaims or reimagines the idea of the flag. We welcome a range of perspectives and mediums that engage with identity, belonging, resistance, community, memory or possibility. The exhibition runs October 2 to 4; drop off work on September 28 and 29. Contact Jen Berger at attherootvt@gmail.com to submit. Deadline: September 28. The Hive on Pine, Burlington. ‘NIGHT SHADES’: Seeking art that is dark in nature, dark in tones and color shades, dark in concepts, or commenting on dark topics politically and socially for an October exhibition. Deadline: September 23. The SEABA Center, Burlington. $20 per selected artist. SHIRES ONE-MINUTE FILM FEST: GNAT-TV and CAT-TV are seeking video submissions of 60-second films for the fest, which will screen entries at the Bennington Theater on October 17. Entries can be funny, dramatic, documentary-style, animated, experimental, heartfelt, strange or something completely unexpected; cash prizes for three winners and an audience choice award. Deadline: October 9. Catamount Access Television, Bennington. ➆

OCTOBER 4-9

SHUT DOWN ICE HQ IN WILLISTON!

How do you Shut Down ICE? You shut down its nerve center.

Job of theWeek EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Addison County Child and Parent Center

Join us in Williston, where ICE surveillance has its national headquarters. We’re planning a week of action to stop work for the week through mass civil disobedience, noise demos, festivals, teach-ins, meditations, and more.

LEARN MORE at shutdownICEvt.org Contact us at shutdownicevt@gmail.com 6h-ShutDownICE092326.indd 1

9/22/26 8:07 AM

What makes the Addison County Parent Child Center truly unique is the depth and longevity of its relationships.

Get the scoop on this position from Early Childhood and Parent Educator Sophie Leary.

What are some specific challenges of this position, and why is it important? The ED must balance in-house and out-ofhouse responsibilities — supporting staff, families, children and participants while also representing PCC and maintaining strong community relationships. They must lead with both heart and backbone: treating the Center and its people with love, care and compassion while also being willing to have difficult conversations, set boundaries and make hard decisions. They must balance advocacy and relationships, ensuring the voices and needs of staff, families and participants are heard while fostering positive partnerships within the broader community.

Tell us something completely unique about ACPCC. What makes the Addison County Parent Child Center truly unique is the depth and longevity of its relationships. We provide compassionate and holistic support services that strengthen young families and individuals in Addison County. Our services include family support and outreach, early intervention, mental health counseling, playgroups, the Learning Together Program, and childcare. We do generational work — we support the whole family, often building connections that continue across years and even generations. Respect is the norm, whether you are a child, parent, participant, staff member or community member. We meet people where they are, practice reflective and trauma-transformative care, and recognize that everyone brings their own experiences and strengths. That same care extends to our staff; people genuinely look out for and care about one another. At the core of PCC is a simple but powerful combination of love and respect.

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

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/21/26 12:51 PM

music+nightlife

You spent your youth in 1980s NYC, photographing punk shows. Was it a desire to relive the glory days that led you to revisit that world for your new book? That was certainly part of it. I was thinking of the Tuff Darts the other day — great band. They had this song called 56

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

to sit in front of the speakers at CBGB’s so I could feel my internal organs shake with the music. I knew then I was going to pay, and I’m not sorry I did it, but now I have terrible tinnitus. It’s interesting that you use your character Elena’s own tinnitus as a sort of superpower in the book. It plays a part in her being able to hear the voices of her murdered friends. I wanted to take a symptom of aging and turn it into something powerful. As a woman of a certain age, they tell you that you’ll become invisible and have less power as you age. But it’s the opposite. I’ve never felt so secure in who I am and who I’ve become.

Ann Dávila Cardinal

Dead Speakers

COURTESY OF GORDON MILLER

lena Alteri used to be something of a wild child. Coming of age in the late 1970s and early ’80s in New York City, she experienced the highs and lows of that era’s punk-rock explosion. Now 66, suffering from tinnitus and living a quiet, almost hermit-like life in rural Vermont, Elena begins to hear the voices of dead friends after attending an art exhibit near her old haunts. These girls were murdered and forgotten in the big lights and gritty nights of the city — voices calling out for justice. So begins Morrisville author Ann Dávila Cardinal’s new book, Hear the Dead, due out on October 9. The supernatural thriller draws on environments and themes from her own experience growing up in NYC’s punk scene. Like Elena, Cardinal, also in her sixties, remembers seeing the likes of Sex Pistols and Blondie play dingy, infamous clubs such as CBGB and Max’s Kansas City; she also caught more obscure acts, including Dead Boys and 999. While Hear the Dead is her first literary foray into the punk-rock world of her youth, Cardinal is accustomed to switching lanes, even into musical realms. In addition to adult novels such as The Storyteller’s Death, she has written young adult horror, winning the 2020 International Latino Book Award for Five Midnights, as well as YA horror comedies such as 2025’s You’ve Awoken Her. She even wrote an illustrated children’s biography of Puerto Rican music superstar Bad Bunny, something she’s very proud of, given her own Puerto Rican heritage. For a book full of punk energy, Cardinal knew that a simple release party in which she read aloud to a quiet audience wouldn’t do the trick. Instead, she’ll debut Hear the Dead alongside a set by Vermont punk-rock outfit Violet Crimes at the Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center on Tuesday, October 6. Ahead of that event, Cardinal hopped on a call with Seven Days to talk magical realism, the benefits of fear and having a weird sense of pride about losing her hearing.

Ann Dávila Cardinal’s new book is a supernatural murder mystery set during punk rock’s early 1980s heyday B Y CHRIS FAR NS W O R TH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

“(Your Love Is Like) Nuclear Waste.” But nobody knows them anymore; they only had one album! I’ve been watching bands I loved, like the Panic Squad, slowly die off. I’m 63 now, so that’s starting to happen more often. And I’ve been wanting to write about that time in my life for years. My publishers are so game for my weirdness. I told them I wanted to write a novel about an old woman with tinnitus who can hear old murders, and they were just like, “Yeah, go for it, Ann.”

What was it like returning to those clubs and shows and mentally inhabiting a New York that is largely gone now? Oh, my God, New York is so different now. I was in SoHo a little while ago during Fashion Week, and it was just awful. We would have eaten those people for breakfast back then! I miss the primal grittiness of that New York and the punks. People think it was all skinheads or something, but punk is a thinking person’s art form. It’s inherently political. And visceral! I used

Elena’s story also seems to revolve around grief she never quite dealt with. Everything I write is about grief. My dad died of ALS when I was 8 years old, and when you lose a parent that young, it just defines you. I had an alcoholic mother, and when you deal with addiction at that age, it also just becomes part of your DNA. Processing grief is something I’ve spent my whole life doing, but I really liked the idea of writing about Elena, who wasn’t willing to do that. She ran away and escaped instead, hunkered down until her grief came calling for her. You come from a long line of Puerto Rican writers and poets, but you work chiefly in the realms of horror and thrillers. What is it about these genres that calls to you? Do you like to be frightened? I don’t necessarily like being scared, no. I got into horror because I had a shitty childhood. I love horror because you could say, Well, my life may be shitty, but at least there aren’t any zombies. It made me feel better about my own circumstances to see people getting through much worse situations. But I’m so afraid in general, I’m medicated — I have anxiety disorder. I see garbage bags on [Interstate] 89, and I think body parts. A kid’s abandoned bike on the roadside freaks me out. I think and write weird shit, Chris! But I’ve made a career out of fear. Horror also allows for retribution for injustice, whereas real life often does not. A main character who can solve the decades-old murders of her friends must be an enticing prospect to explore. The thing about magical realism is DEAD SPEAKERS

» P.58

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS

York Times #1 New BEST SELLER

DJ Taka

On the Beat We’re a few weeks into a Burlington music scene without Radio Bean, and I’m not going to lie: It feels weird as hell, y’all. I had just gotten used to the sight of a dark, vacant Nectar’s on my downtown walk, but I was unprepared for the emotional ass-kick of seeing Radio Bean shuttered on a Thursday night. People should have been buzzing all along that block of North Winooski Ave. I should have smelled BO and weed while music wafted out the doors. But nope — no beats, no body odor, no contact high. Just a quiet scene, like wandering back to a party that ended the night before. (To be fair to the OP, it was “Jeopardy!” time; otherwise the dive bar would have been more energetic. That place takes its trivia seriously.) While I’m hearing plenty of rumors that the beloved indie-music venue will reopen in the near future, there’s nothing concrete to report yet, so the hope remains just that. Meanwhile, the massive amount of music the club hosted is spreading throughout the greater Burlington area in a sort of Radio Bean diaspora. The Monkey House in Winooski and the SEABA Center on Pine Street have both picked up some shows. But what about the great weekly residencies the Bean hosted, like Honky Tonk Tuesday? There’s no word yet on the fate of the beloved country music hoedown, but another of the Bean’s favorite nights is coming back: TAKAHIKO MATSUI, better known as the one and only DJ TAKA, is taking his talents (and records) to Winooski. Starting this Friday, September 25, Standing Stone Wines is the new home for his weekly dance parties. It all kicks off at 11 p.m., right

OCTOBER 8TH & 9TH SPRUCE PEAK ARTS 7PM

Listening In (Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “BEES III (ON AND ON)”

by Cricket Blue

Get Tickets: sprucepeakarts.org

2. “TOGETHER FOREVER IN LOVE”

by the Smittens

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3. “SHADOW COLOSSUS”

9/14/26 3:25 PM

by Freddie Losambe 4. “WENDY” by Guppyboy 5. “BREAKING ICE”

by J. Willis Pratt & We’re Bionic 6. “A SLAP IN THE FACE”

by Violet Crimes 7. “THANK YOU, DAVID”

by Zack Dupont

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

after Country Karaoke, hosted by EASTERN MOUNTAIN TIME’s SEAN HOOD. It hurts to see Radio Bean closed, but if there’s a silver lining, it’s watching other venues pick up the slack and make new homes for our artists. I recently received an email from a local music fan who, while expressing gratitude for Seven Days’ coverage of Vermont music, took umbrage with what he felt was a lack of love for the blues. “I just don’t see much about blues music these days,” wrote the reader, ON THE BEAT

» P.58

RECORDING • MIXING • MASTERING EVENTS • LIVE RECORDINGS • VOICE OVER & ADR PERFORMANCE REHEARSALS • ARCHIVAL MEDIA TRANSFERS E NG I NE E R O W NE D & OP E R AT E D I N B U RL I N G T O N, V T

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music+nightlife comfort. It’s the literary movement of the colonized; that’s why it largely started in Colombia. It’s the voice of the powerless. And as a Puerto Rican, it’s such an important mode for a writer to use. We’re the longest-lasting colony in the history of the world, so magical realism is big. In my case, with this book, it gives me a chance to inject hope and a little power. But there are things that don’t get resolved in this story. I didn’t want to give all the answers or easy endings.

who preferred to remain anonymous and whom I, in the true spirit of the blues, will instead call “BLEEDING EARS” LEMON. “I want to see some live blues!” I dutifully pointed him in some directions to get his blues fix, all of which were indeed listed in our fine publication, by the way. But I did promise to keep an eye out for shows blues fan might get excited about. Ask and ye shall receive, ol’ Bleeding Ears! Plattsburgh Blues & Jazz welcomes saxophonist VANESSA COLLIER to Retro Live on Wednesday, October 14. A multi-award-winning musician, Collier took home Female Contemporary Artist of the Year at the 2025 Blues Music Awards for her Vanessa Collier work fusing funk and soul with blues. As one of the most prominent up-and-coming musicians in the blues world, she is a can’tmiss for aficionados. Visit

PUNK IS A THINKING PERSON’S ART FORM. A NN D ÁV I L A CA RDINAL

Shows to Watch Out For BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH COURTESY

Having a punk-rock book release seems incredibly fitting for a story like Hear the Dead. Did you think about inviting some of the old punk bands that influenced you? Well, that would be incredibly violent and destructive! [Laughing.] And most of them are gone, of course. I love the Dead Boys, but they would have been obnoxious for sure. Ooh, the Stimulators were a great band; they had a 12-year-old drummer named Harley. I had a fantasy of having a punk band play the launch, and I was talking with [fellow author] Amy Klinger. I had just posted a Dead Boys song online, and she said, “Oh, we cover that song.” And I said, “Wait, what? You have a band?” So it was great to find out about her band, Violet Crimes, and have them play the event. I did tell Amy, “No mosh pits, please.” I was there when people started slam dancing back in the day, and I hated it. I liked to dance; I took party drugs to dance, not slam into people or nod out on heroin. So, no moshing, please. ➆

The fine folks at the Otter Creek Music Festival and Vermont Public Classical have teamed up to produce a cross-genre event featuring local singer-songwriter MOIRA SMILEY and Boston’s RASA STRING QUARTET. Dubbed

1. Two Door Cinema Club at MTELUS in Montréal, October 1

C HRI S FARN S W O RT H

2. Melvin Seals and JGB at the Egg in Albany, N.Y., October 14 3. Bob the Drag Queen at the Flynn in Burlington, October 17

Bob the D

rag Queen

tasio

s Trey Ana

KINS

IAN JEN

Two Door Cinema Club

7. Low Cut Connie at Stone Church in Brattleboro, December 28

Y OF BR

6. Trey Anastasio Band at State Theatre in Portland, Maine, November 10 (Sold out)

COURTES

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

“Roots to Sky,” the show blends classical music with traditional folk sounds, including cuts from Smiley’s 2024 album, The Rhizome Project. “Roots to Sky” happens on Saturday, October 17, at the Vergennes Opera House. Learn more about the show and purchase tickets at ottercreekmusicfestival.com.

5. Clutch at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington, November 3

INFO

plattsburghbluesandjazz. com for more information and tickets.

4. Suzanne Vega at Barre Opera House, October 23

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

Hear the Dead by Ann Dávila Cardinal, Sourcebooks Landmark, 368 pages. $18.99. Book launch with Violet Crimes, Tuesday, October 6, 7-9 p.m., at Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center. Free. anndavilacardinal.com

Moira Smiley and Rasa String Quartet

COURTESY

On the Beat « P.57

COURTESY PHOTOS

Dead Speakers « P.56

Night Watch

A debut projection fest!

Saturday, October 24, 7-11pm

Lake Street, Burlington

Free!

Ballaké Sissoko & Piers Faccini BUY TICKETS

NOW!

Friday, September 25 at 7:30 pm UVM Recital Hall $38.50 Adult | $7.50 Student

LIVE SINCE 1955

2026 Fall Sessions Sponsors

ARTISTS DISPEL THE DARKNESS

and thanks to our anonymous donors

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with Grant Support from: Vermont Community Foundation | Vermont Humanities | Vermont Council on the Arts

2 0 2 6 FA L L S E S S I O N S T I C K E T S | A R T I S T I N F O :

UVM.EDU/LANESERIES LAN.262.26 Lane Series 7D Sissoko/Faccini Ad (9/23 Issue): 1/4 tile color: 4.75" x 5.56"

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/16/26 4:12 PM

Real People. Real Jobs. Meet employers, collaborators and recruiters face-to-face at the…

PRESENT

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 • HULA, BURLINGTON • FREE CAREER+TECH EXPO: 10 A.M.-3 P.M. PRESENTATIONS: 11 A.M. & 1 P.M.

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

At this annual career and tech expo, talk with dozens of exhibitors who are looking for local hires with expertise in engineering, manufacturing, coding, digital marketing and more. Recruiters from Vermont colleges and universities will offer a wide array of tech-related opportunities. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:

Real Things: BETA, Hazelett and Rigorous 11 A.M. PRE-JAM PEP TALK Prepare to maximize your time on Tech Jam day. Attend a free, virtual Tech Jam Boot Camp with career coach Sue Schlom of the Targeted Resume a week prior, on Friday, October 16, noon-1 p.m. Register online.

INSTANT HEADSHOT LOUNGE Come camera-ready and get a professional profile pic by Storyworkz. Book by 10/23 for a discounted $15 session. Limited walk-ups.

Representatives from local product design and manufacturing companies discuss what they’re looking for in potential employees. From airframe assembly team leads to casting experts to robotics engineers, these companies are looking to fill a variety of openings.

Totally Unreal: How Deepfakes Are Changing Everything 1 P.M. Recently featured in the New York Times, Dartmouth professor Hany Farid discusses the difficulty of discerning what is real in a world full of AI slop and digital fakery. Learn what you can do to avoid being fooled.

EXHIBITOR LIST AND REGISTRATION:

techjamvt.com

C O M M U N I T Y PA RT N E R S

S U P P O RT I N G PA RT N E R S

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

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music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent. COURTESY

live music WED.23

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

SAT.26

Amelia Devoid (dream pop) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Bandhausen (punk, ska) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 5 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Nights (bluegrass) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Blake Matteson (singersongwriter) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Bywater Call (roots rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $18. Evan Barker & Izzy Jones (singersongwriter) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. $10. Jazz Jam (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Bob Cotton (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Sean Hayes, Shawn Magee (folk) at Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $37/$42.

Borrow the Bones (folk) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

The Dog Catchers (roots, blues) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

Los Lorcas (folk) at the Tunbridge General Store, 5 p.m. Free.

Dwight + Nicole, Grace Palmer (soul, R&B) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25. Esther Rose (singer-songwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Ethan Iverson (jazz, post-rock) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 8 p.m. $40/$45.

THU.24

Allison Mann Jazz Trio (jazz) at Haybarn Restaurant and Lounge, Plainfield, 6 p.m. Donation. Boxcar Breakdown (bluegrass) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free. Dan Parks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free. Funk Jam (funk) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Hard Scrabble (folk) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

SUN.27 // OLIVER WOOD [ROOTS]

Against the Grain Singer-songwriter and guitarist

OLIVER WOOD got

his start in the Atlanta music scene, performing with the blues-rock outfit King Johnson. After playing a show together in 2001, he and his brother, Chris Wood, of the jazz-fusion band Medeski, Martin & Wood, finally joined forces, and the Wood Brothers were born. Many albums and years of hard touring later, the band is still going strong. But Oliver

Lincoln Sprague (piano) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

also maintains a solo career. He released Fat Cat Silhouette in 2024 and dropped a self-

Luna, Constant Smiles (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $30.

Waterbury Center on Sunday, September 27. Singer-songwriter RIC ROBERTSON opens.

Paddy Reagan’s Are You Now? (indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Summer Concert Series on the Patio (live music series) at Folino’s Pizza, Williston, 6 p.m. Free.

titled record with his new band, Slow Accordion, earlier this year. He comes to Zenbarn in

Chris Powers (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free. Crab 1000 (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free. Dawn Tyler Watson: The Jazz Sessions (jazz) hosted by Plattsburgh Blues & Jazz at private residence, 7 p.m. $35.

Summoning Circle (folk) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Dead Man Strumming (Grateful Dead tribute) at River Roost Brewery, White River Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

FRI.25

George Woodard (singersongwriter) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Almost SturCrazie (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. A Band of Brothers (Allman Brothers tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20. Bird Mountain Sting Band (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Grace Palmer (singer-songwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free. The Hitmen (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Jaded Ravins (Americana) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8 p.m. Free.

James Graham Duo (folk rock) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7:30 p.m. Free. Joe Agnello (rock, jam) at Stowe Cider, 6 p.m. Free.

Ryan James & the Cryin’ Shames (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Band (blues) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 8 p.m. Free.

Ryan Sweezey (singersongwriter) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Monachino, Jarrett & Stats (folk) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Season of Yes (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Mr French (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Silvan Pulse (rock) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

The Natural Selection (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Tophouse, Katie Lynne Sharbaugh (rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $25.

Otto Benson, Shane “Bray” Kerr (singer-songwriter) at Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $22/$28. Parker Shper (indie, experimental) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

The Wormdogs (bluegrass, folk) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

Hana Stretton, Helena Deland (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20. Oliver Wood, Ric Robertson (roots) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $35/$55.

Donna the Buffalo (roots rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $30.

Nick Granelle (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Gnomenclature (funk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Blue Fox Trio (blues, country) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Jim Yeager Duo (singersongwriter) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Madison Cunningham, Julia Cumming (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $30.

David Karl Roberts (singersongwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Frankie White, Steve Hartmann (indie) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. GuitFiddle (rock, country) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free. Liz Reedy (singer-songwriter) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.28

Cate Le Bon, Otto Benson (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $31. Chandler, TuffLuckKid, Flywlkr (hip-hop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15. Ora Cogan, Alice Grace (indie rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$20.

TUE.29

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Dale and Darcy (folk) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

The Night Shift (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Returnables (rock, blues) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Destroyer, Ryley Walker (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25.

The Sheila Divine (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:45 p.m. $10.

Hard Scrabble (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Skunk Fest 2026 (ska, punk) at the Underground, Randolph, 10 a.m. $30.

XASTHUR, Temple of the Fuzzwitch (metal) at Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $20/$26.

SNP (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Tophouse, Katie Lynne Sharbaugh (rock) at Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. SOLD OUT. TURNmusic Presents Helen Gillet (jazz, funk) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-$30. Who Brought the Dog (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $10/$15. William Lee Ellis (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. YYZeppelin (Led Zeppelin, Rush tribute) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free.

WED.30

Arty and Friends (blues, rock) at Halvorson’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Donations. Bluegrass Nights (bluegrass) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. David Karl Roberts (singersongwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. Evan Barker & Izzy Jones (singersongwriter) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. $10. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.27

Alex Radus and Stu Fuchs (singer-songwriter) at Stage 33 Live, Bellows Falls, 3 p.m. $20.

LIVE MUSIC

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

» P.62 61

music+nightlife COURTESY

live music WED.30 CONTINUED FROM P.61 Kevin Dion (country) at the Tunbridge General Store, 5 p.m. Free.

THU.24

FRI.25

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Sophie Buddle (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25. Boom City Limits: A Variety Show (comedy) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 7:30 p.m. $15.

djs

Sophie Buddle (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

THU.24

Vermont Comedy All Stars (comedy) at Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $15/$20.

Thirsty Thursday (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SAT.26

Two Sev, JP Black, Eli, Rubi (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Natasha’s Brian’s Nic’s Little Treasures (comedy) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free. Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Sophie Buddle (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $25.

FRI.25

SUN.27

Suzi Barrett & Friends (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10.

DJ Fattie B (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free. DJ LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

TUE.29

DJ Lavilamod (DJ) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6:30 p.m. Free.

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 11 p.m. $10.

WED.30

Ecstatic Dance Vermont (DJ) at Capital City Grange, Berlin, 7 p.m. $10 donation.

Joe Dombrowski (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Flow State: missandri, Fever Dreams (DJ) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 8 p.m. $17.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free. Two Sev, Ron Stoppable, Burly Bear, Cece (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.23

SAT.26

Crypt Goth Night (DJ) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8 p.m. Free. DJ Big Dog (DJ) at Thingz From Yaad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. DJ Jace Steele (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

TUE.29 // DESTROYER [INDIE]

Tear It Up When Canadian singer-songwriter and member of the Montréal

DJ Kwame (DJ) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

indie band the New Pornographers Dan Bejar launched his project DESTROYER in the late

DJ OH-J Freshhh (DJ) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 9 p.m. Free.

genres. A true musical shape-shifter, Bejar led his band through many modes, from synth

’90s, he chose the rather metal-sounding sobriquet to reflect his desire to tear through

Karaoke with Cam (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Haus of Sparkle with DJ Cheetatah (DJ) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

pop to lush, experimental electronica to lounge jazz and beyond. His most recent album,

Trivia (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

2025’s Dan’s Boogie, continues the sonic-chameleon act and is an epic ride that crosses

THU.24

Mr. Cheng, Aras, Raul, Nilz (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

into smooth jazz and yacht rock. Destroyer play the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge on Tuesday, September 29, with indie singer-songwriter RYLEY WALKER providing support.

TUE.29

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams WED.23

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.24

Open Mic (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Stage (open jam) at Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7 p.m. Donation.

SUN.27

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.28

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free. Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Open Mic (open mic) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free. Open Mic Variety Extravaganza (open mic) at the Hive on Pine, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke in the Alley (karaoke) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

comedy

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.23

Open Mic (open mic) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke (karaoke) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8 p.m. Free.

WED.30

TUE.29

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Country Line Dancing (line dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Trivia Night with College (trivia) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7 p.m. Free.

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 5 p.m. Free.

SAT.26

Queeraoke with Lizzie Murderz (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.27

Boots & Burgers (line dancing) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 6 p.m. $10. 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. Trivia (trivia) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 5:30 p.m. Free.

MON.28

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.29

Karaoke 101 with Tenacious T (karaoke) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke with DJ Vociferous (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free. Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.30

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free. Karaoke with Cam (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

➆

REVIEW this Goodnight Nobody, s/t

(SWEET CHEETAH RECORDS, CD, DIGITAL, VINYL)

Does anyone know what the “post” in post-punk is supposed to sound like? Asking for a friend. And that friend is the Burlington band Goodnight Nobody. The newcomers’ debut LP, s/t, lurches from tittering math rock to dynamic, ’90s-loving alternative to college-radio slacker-indie fare, often within the same song. It’s almost as if the band were trying to cover every possible post-punk base to create the ultimate beard-stroking, slightly too-old-to-mosh aesthetic. The album’s first track, “Happy Birthday,” roars out of the gate with a propulsive fistpumper of a beat from drummer Nicholas Kramer. Ben Glassman’s staccato, New Orderesque bass line locks in like clockwork as guitarist and vocalist Jason Dean channels Boston post-punks Mission of Burma. And s/t is off and running. It’s clear over the album’s eight songs that Goodnight Nobody worship at several altars: space, power and dynamics. As a trio, the band creates a full sound, bordering on beefy, but knows when to let space do the work. The closely controlled dynamic shifts on “The Staircase” build upward like a goth Jenga tower. The new-wave minimalism of “Aurora” likewise takes a circuitous route to a massive outro. Dean, formerly of Seattle indie-rock outfit Mutiny Mutiny, also records under the moniker Starvation Wages and dropped the lyrically dense, darkas-hell Marketplace Fear in 2023. The record was a gritty industrial project, seething with political rage and chockfull of direct lyrics. Goodnight Nobody are more elusive,

I SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

and Dean’s lyrics are held a little closer to the vest on s/t. “God damn this cycle,” Dean howls on “Planned Obsolescence,” a ferocious snake pit of razor-sharp riffs and snarling angst, before intoning “nobody wants this” over and over. It’s a punk-rock “opt-out” anthem, a great song to blast while canceling a Spotify or Amazon account. Would that genre be reverse synergy? Unsubscribe-core? For a new group, the trio is remarkably fully formed and, for the most part, pulls off the balancing act of essentially being several different modes of rock band all at once. “Cans vs Should” maybe isn’t the best version of Goodnight Nobody, with Dean’s melody weirdly sedate as the band finds itself in a lingering shuffle that goes on longer than necessary. But such missteps are few and far between on an otherwise promising debut. “Already Enough” serves as a kind of thesis statement for the band. The song is an epic album closer, moving through all the ingredients simmering in the postpunk cauldron of s/t and culminating in a swaggering coda of high-intensity instrumental prowess. For Goodnight Nobody, the “post” in post-punk may mean many things at once, but they’re well suited to navigating a wide expanse of buzzing guitars, trancelike bass and impellent drumbeats. There’s no identity crisis on s/t, just a band in enough command of its influences to confidently fuse them all together. s/t is streaming on major services and available for physical purchase at goodnightnobody.bandcamp.com. Catch Goodnight Nobody on Saturday, October 3, at the Monkey House in Winooski with fellow Burlington rockers Peddle and We’re Here! to Kill. CHRIS FARNSWORTH

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED: ARE YOU A VT ARTIST OR BAND? SEND US YOUR MUSIC! DIGITAL: MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM; SNAIL MAIL: MUSIC C/O SEVEN DAYS, 255 S. CHAMPLAIN ST., SUITE 5, BURLINGTON, VT 05401

AND LIFE WOULD BE WORSE WITHOUT SEVEN DAYS IN IT. – Jen Vincent, South Burlington

SUPER READER SINCE SEPTEMBER 2022

Welcome, new Super Readers!

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

Deborah Cahill Peter McCormick Randall Graves Julie Maslack Mort Zachter Anne Smith

Susan Butani Steve Goldman Judith Hishikawa Denise Ricker Mark SanAngelo Linda Williams

Sandra Walsh Melissa Aurigemma Carol Johnson Joseph & E Camille Lovering T Michael & Larissa Flynn

Here are some of the repeat and recurring Super Readers who sustain us all year: Greg Beeman Berne Broudy Marialisa Calta Alexandra Collins Celia Daly Gerardo Gutierrez Melissa Hood

Anmari Kicza Connie Krosney Judith Leonard Frank Leonard Hope Lindsay Alex Melville Susan Paruch

Marcantonio Rendino Mark Twery Robin Twery James Wanner Ryan White John Wilson Susan Zimmerman

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

Make your contribution today! sevendaysvt.com/super-readers Or send a check w/note to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402. Need more info? Want to give from a donor-advised fund or through a qualified charitable contribution? Contact Sarah at 802-865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

2v-SRthanks092326.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/22/26 11:49 AM

calendar S E P T E M B E R

WED.23 agriculture

GUIDED TOURS: Guests get to know the personal histories of rescued farm animals at an educational walk-through highlighting the nuances of lifelong care. Merrymac Animal Sanctuary, Charlotte, 2-3 p.m. $25. VEGETABLE WORKSHOP: Agminded individuals talk cover crops, tour the farm’s fields and tunnels, and take in an electric cultivating tractor demonstration. High Meadows Farm, Putney, 3-5:30 p.m. Free. WEDNESDAYS WITH FARMER FRED: The site’s resident farmer and storyteller demonstrates historical agricultural tools and techniques, including sheep shearing, rye harvesting and cider pressing. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, noon-2 p.m. Regular admission, $4-12; free for kids under 6.

business

‘FROM DIGITAL BROCHURE TO SALES PLATFORM’: J. Scott Marketing founder and CEO Julia Scott offers insight into creating websites that support measurable business growth. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

community

COFFEE & CONVERSATION: Licensed therapist Sarah Morrison Yates hosts a weekly opportunity for neighbors to connect over a cup of joe. Coffee and snacks provided. St. George Historic Schoolhouse, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial

Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.noon. Free. PASSEGGIATA: Inspired by an Italian social ritual, locals take to the streets for a community-building stroll of the pedestrian promenade. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. PASSEGGIATA WATERBURY: Neighbors adopt a timeless Mediterranean tradition of civic engagement and social bonding during an evening amble. Downtown Waterbury, 5-8 p.m. Free.

conferences

3SQUARESVT CONFERENCE: The state’s federal food assistance org hosts a virtual opportunity for advocates and service providers to learn about outreach and policy efforts from experts in the field. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; preregister. STATE OF THE WORLD SUMMIT: To mark the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, the Vermont Council on World Affairs brings together community members to explore pathways to a more unified world. Hula, Burlington, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. $75; preregister.

crafts

YARN & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free.

dance

MOVEMENT MATTERS MASTERCLASS: Visiting artist

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE! All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent. Seven Days calendar writer Rebecca Driscoll selects and writes calendar spotlights. To help process the hundreds of event submissions we receive each week, some listings are compiled with the help of AI. Driscoll reviews, edits and verifies every entry before publication. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

2 3 - 3 0 ,

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

2 0 2 6

Jen Hong helps dancers of all levels tune into biomechanics, physiology and physics to navigate their bodies’ presence in space and time. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. SQUARE DANCE CLUB: Swing your partner ’round and ’round! The Cast Off 8’s club leads the way at an introductory session in an inclusive setting. Lothrop Elementary School, Pittsford, 6:30-8 p.m. $7. VERSA-STYLE STREET DANCE: In “Rooted Rhythms,” an electrifying troupe grooves through a medley of its most popular works, showcasing a range of styles from popping and whacking to breaking. See calendar spotlight. Daryl Roth Studio Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $40.

etc.

THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: Participants of all ages make their way around town to collect passport stamps from 18 local shops and restaurants, then turn in their completed booklet for a chance to win prizes. Various Hardwick locations. Free. MUSEUM TOURS: A guided tour charts a course through regional history, uncovering the archaeological secrets hidden beneath the waves. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. ‘PHILADELPHIA II’ OPEN HOURS: History buffs handle artifacts and test their rowing skills aboard a replica gunboat that brings the living and working conditions of Revolutionary War soldiers to life. Lake

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN FILM SERIES: ‘ADA: MY MOTHER THE ARCHITECT’: Yael Melamede’s 2024 biographical documentary zooms in on the life and career of her mother, renowned Israeli architect Ada Karmi-Melamede. Virtual option available. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. Free. ‘THE LIBRARIANS’: Kim A. Snyder’s stirring 2025 documentary follows a courageous group of librarians who become unlikely defenders of democracy amid an unprecedented wave of book bans. A panel discussion follows. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. Free.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. CUPPA ON CAMPUS: Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the future of the property. The Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 a.m. Free. DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: Villagers connect over live music and family-friendly activities at a weekly gathering featuring Northeast Kingdom produce, artisan wares and culinary creations. Danville Town Green, 3:30-7 p.m. Free. MARKET ON THE GREEN: Shoppers feast their eyes on fresh produce, prepared foods and artisanal goods as they enjoy live local music. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Free. OKTOBERFEST: Homemade pretzels, brats and malts of Munich are served up at this annual Bavarian bash, along with tunes from German polka music outfit Inseldudler. American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5-9 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

See what’s playing in the On Screen section.

WEDNESDAY WINE DOWN FARMERS MARKET: Folks uncork happiness while browsing local produce and products, sipping vino, and enjoying live music by noteworthy outfits. Shelburne Vineyard, 5-9 p.m. Free.

music + nightlife

health & fitness

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music.

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

BLOOD DRIVE: Participants part with life-sustaining pints at this American Red Cross donation event. Greater Burlington YMCA, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor

local acts, authentic tacos from Las Hermosas, summery bevvies and sweet treats make for the perfect hump-day capper. See thetillermanvt.com for lineup. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. RECOVERY DHARMA: Individuals struggling with addiction gather weekly for an evening of meditation, topical readings and open discussion in a supportive environment. First United Methodist Church, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Free.

outdoors

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Practitioners sharpen their skills and connect with neighbors at a bimonthly meetup facilitated by a native speaker. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10-11 a.m. Free. LANGUAGE LOUNGE: Lunch breaks transform into global conversation circles as participants hone their multilingual abilities. See kellogghubbard.org for details. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon. Free.

THE ALL-INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: A weekly get-together and listening party celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with feelgood tunes, dancing and drinks. Doma Bar, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

music

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: THE MEATPACKERS: The beloved local band serves up its signature brand of contagious bluegrass rhythms. Shelburne Orchards, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. MUSIC IN TROUBLED TIMES FESTIVAL: The Opera Company of Middlebury brings together chamber music, film, lectures and live performances for a two-week festival exploring how humanity uses music to confront hardships. See ocmvermont.org for details. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 6:30 p.m. Various prices.

THE SILO SESSIONS: HENRY JAMISON WITH ISABEL PLESS: Concertgoers feast on made-toorder tacos while soaking in a poetic performance of modern indie-folk. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 7 p.m. $18-22. SUMMER LIVE MUSIC SERIES: Weekly performances by top

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: With a new design every year, this sprawling 24-acre labyrinth presents a fresh challenge for fall revelers. Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville, 9 a.m.-noon. Various prices; preregister.

québec

lgbtq

MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Outdoor music lovers pack a picnic and revel in vibrant performances at this weekly celebration of seasonal sounds. See artistreevt.org for lineup. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 6:30 p.m. Free.

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: Five full acres of puzzling twists and turns challenge families’ directional skills, followed by a sweet reward of maple creemees. Silloway Maple, Randolph Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10.

‘HORS-D’ŒUVRE’: Choreographer Catherine Gaudet’s latest work features dancer James Phillips in an exploration of nostalgia as a creative catalyst. La Chapelle, Montréal, 7:30 p.m. $18-47.

seminars

FAMILY-TO-FAMILY CLASS: NAMI Vermont hosts an informative weekly seminar for individuals with a loved one who is struggling with mental health. 6-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. INTRO TO 3D MODELING: Digital artists learn the basics of opensource software Blender at this two-part introductory workshop. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. SOCIAL SECURITY & YOUR RETIREMENT SEMINAR: Financial experts unpack Social Security strategies to help working adults maximize their post-career income. EastRise Credit Union, Williston, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players block, chop and lob in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. WHALEBOAT WEDNESDAYS: Lake lovers embark on a unique aquatic adventure by rowing and sailing a traditionally rigged wooden craft across the water. Lake Champlain Maritime WED.23

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These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

COURTESY OF BEANA BERN

FAMILY FUN Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages. • Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun. • Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

STORIES & SONGS FOR LIBRARY LITTLES: Tots get their bodies and brains moving with books, music and unstructured social time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Nonmobile infants and their caregivers embark on a slow-paced social hour featuring songs, rhymes and restorative connection. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. CHILDREN’S STORY TIME WITH CHRISTINE: Young bookworms wiggle, sing and turn pages at an interactive session led by a former early childhood educator. Wild Meadows Books & Café, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free. SWITCH IT UP!: A weekly gaming session on the library’s Nintendo Switch engages elementary students in friendly competition. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages 12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-6 p.m. Free.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Early literacy takes center stage as infants and toddlers engage in a melodic mix of books and songs. Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

THE WITTLE BOOK TOUR: The Vermont Arts Bus hosts author David Alexander for an interactive reading of his children’s book A Farm Day, complete with

BURLINGTON FNG: Self-identified LGBTQ+ and questioning youths ages 13 to 19 gather weekly to socialize in a supportive environment. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.23.

FAMILY FRIDAY WITH LINDA BASSICK: Caretakers and wee ones enjoy a weekly morning mashup of muffins and music played by the local legend. Pingala Café North Avenue, Burlington, 9-9:30 a.m. Free.

burlington

MAGNATILE MASTERPIECES: Future architects ages 3 and up build imaginative creations with magnetic toys. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 10-10:45 a.m. Free.

burlington

DROP-IN: An afterschool hangout space invites teens ages 13 to 19 to relax, connect, grab a snack or browse the nonprofit’s clothing closet. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2:30 p.m. Free.

WED.23

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: Curious minds dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring interactive games, a design studio, multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

FRI.25

chittenden county

LEGO BUILDERS: Weekly sessions invite creative minds to stack, connect and build their way to structural masterpieces using interlocking blocks. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free.

SEP. 26 | FAMILY FUN

barre/montpelier

Out of the Box Cats are fascinated by cardboard boxes for a reason: You never know what might pop out. At York Street Meeting House in Lyndon, Modern Times Theater taps into that element of surprise with The Baffo Box Show: A Compact Cardboard Comedy. Performed by Vermont husband-and-wife duo Justin Lander and Rose Friedman, the low-tech spectacle uses a one-of-a-kind “suit-stage” to invoke oohs and ahhs with a fresh spin on traditional hand puppetry, replete with Dadaist ventriloquism, juggling and music made from discarded objects. From the moment the lid bursts open, amusement abounds as two slapstick chaps work to complete their daily task of keeping the universe on schedule. Saturday, September 26, 3 & 7 p.m., at York Street Meeting House in Lyndon. $10-15; free for kids 5 and under. Info, 802-748-2600, catamountarts.org.

THU.24

burlington

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.23. GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads kids ages 2 to 5 in songs, movement and other fun activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. MINECRAFT MEETUP: Fans of the sandbox game from ages 7 to 12 gather with fellow enthusiasts to play on the library’s private server. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 5-6:15 p.m. Free.

chittenden county

MUSIC & PLAY TIME: Youth librarian Bella leads children ages birth to 5 in lively interactive tunes, followed by an

opportunity to dive into the library’s toy bins. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. READ TO CHEWIE THE THERAPY DOG: Literacy and licks collide as students sharpen their skills alongside a fourlegged listener and his human, Cindy. Essex Free Library, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. TEEN BOARD GAMES: Tabletop classics are on the menu at this fun-filled meetup for patrons ages 13 to 18. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. TODDLER TIME: Tykes bypass the “stay seated” rule at a morning of short stories, familiar songs, rhymes and finger plays. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15-9:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos under 4 to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free.

mad river valley/ waterbury

BUSY BEES PLAYGROUP: Blocks, toys, books and songs engage little ones 24 months and younger. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

barre/montpelier

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:3011 a.m. Free.

POKÉMON DAY: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: Putters of all ages hit the artist-designed course for some lighthearted competition, whimsy and thrills. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro. $4-5.

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.23, 2-8 p.m.

STORY TIME: Kids and their caregivers meet for stories, songs and bubbles. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor,

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Tots ages birth to 6 stretch their imaginations and legs at this weekly offering of storytelling, sing-alongs, crafting and open play with youth librarian Sasha McGarvey. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free.

middlebury area

STORY TIME: Lake-centric stories, coloring and crafts anchor little ones at a weekly maritime-themed reading circle. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

‘THE BAFFO BOX SHOW: A COMPACT CARDBOARD COMEDY’

finger puppets, coloring and take-home titles. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

LEGO DAY: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

rutland/killington

WOODLAND FAIRY DANCE PARTY: Costumed revelers of all ages groove to live DJ sets, construct wee magical homes in the forest, and fuel up on wood-fired pizza and herbal mocktails. Sable Project, Stockbridge, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $5-25 suggested donation.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See THU.24. 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.

SAT.26

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.23. SAT.26 SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

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calendar WED.23

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Museum, Vergennes, 4-7 p.m. $60 suggested donation.

talks

250TH ANNIVERSARY PANEL DISCUSSION: Historians unpack Vermont’s unexpected place in the story of American independence through primary-source documents found in the library’s U.S. Government Information Collection. Bailey/Howe Library, University of Vermont, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free. DEEP DIVES SERIES: Listeners plunge into the depths of local maritime history at a biweekly lecture series featuring illuminating presentations by archaeologists, educators and researchers. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’: Northern Stage mounts Kimberly Belflower’s dramedy about high school students in rural Georgia who reexamine Arthur Miller’s classic play The Crucible through a modern feminist lens. See calendar spotlight. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $10-84.

words

STEFAN VAN NORDEN: A gardener, independent filmmaker and author shares his visually stunning, thought-provoking new book, Nature Revisited, in conversation with fellow writer and photographer Jeffrey Ryan. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.24

agriculture

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.23.

community

FRIENDS OF THE ATHENAEUM MEETING: Interested folks link up with a volunteer group that promotes the library’s resources and services, provides hospitality for programs and events, and helps with fundraising efforts. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 9:3010:30 a.m. Free. MONTPELIER RAMBLE: Locals take to the streets for a weekly community-building stroll in the heart of the Capital City. Downtown Montpelier, 5-7 p.m. Free.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: From clicking needles to looping looms, participants hook into a mission

SEP. 23 & 24 | DANCE

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of every experience level get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to makerspace tools and equipment. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50.

dance

VERSA-STYLE STREET DANCE: See WED.23.

environment

BTV CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans collect and dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged. Top of Church St., Burlington, 7:30-10 a.m. Free. ‘PROTECTING OUR WATERSHED: UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN’: Environmentally minded visitors discover the ecological threats facing Vermont’s waterways at this interactive environmental exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 1-3 p.m. Free.

COURTESY OF TIM SALAZ

MARY FILLMORE: In “Anne Frank’s Neighbors: What Did They Do?” an author and speaker examines the choices made by people living alongside the Jewish population as persecution intensified during World War II. Hosted by Vermont Humanities. 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

of goodwill by creating handmade winter wear for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free.

etc.

BROWS FOR BURLINGTON: Guests receive brow shaping in exchange for a donation benefiting the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, a peer-run recovery nonprofit. Cynthea’s Spa Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $22 suggested donation; preregister. THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: See WED.23. SPITFIRE SHIPWRECK VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE: Through a high-tech tour, history buffs submerge themselves in a 3D model of a 1776 gunboat resting on the lake floor. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS’: This 2026 documentary follows activist Reshma Saujani as she chronicles a growing national movement to reunite American moms across divisions. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 5:30 p.m. $12. ‘PENGUIN ISLAND 3D’: Shot on the dramatic, uninhabited sub-Antarctic Crozet Archipelago, this thrilling documentary short zooms in on a lone male suitor seeking his special someone among a colony of rivals. 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.

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Takin’ It to the Streets Los Angeles troupe Versa-Style Street Dance gets the party started — and keeps it going — at the Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hanover, N.H., where two decades of hiphop culture collide in “Rooted Rhythms.” The pulsating production showcases a medley of explosive choreography, from popping (characterized by the quick contraction and relaxation of muscles) and whacking (a club-dance style that emerged during the disco era) to movement traditions of the Afro-Latin diaspora. And the good times don’t stop at the stage: Post-performance, attendees hoof it to the Top of the Hop for an afterparty. No experience is necessary, only the desire to boogie down.

VERSA-STYLE STREET DANCE Wednesday, September 23, and Thursday, September 24, 7:30 p.m., at Daryl Roth Studio Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. $40. Info, 603-646-2422, hop.dartmouth.edu. ‘SEA OTTERS: A WILD FAMILY ADVENTURE 3D’: Otter mom Bella teaches pup Finn to survive amid the wild coastal beauty off Vancouver Island. 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. ‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: A highstakes investigation into the underwater realm reveals how humanity’s future hinges on the fate of the ocean’s toothiest inhabitants. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. ‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: Dedicated wildlife rehabilitation teams

rescue and release injured and orphaned animals back into nature in this heartwarming documentary short. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 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.

Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free.

and a short round of Solarpunk Futures. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

health & fitness

BODY COMPOSITION SCAN: Ditch scale numbers for a one-on-one

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6.

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

food & drink

FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE: Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

games

PEER SUPPORT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Beginners wanted! Players get lost in the fantasy-filled tabletop role-playing game while focusing on teamwork, connection and community building. Morgan House, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

VERGENNES FARMERS MARKET: Locals delight in fresh organic produce, artisan cheeses, meats, baked goods, crafts and live music. Vergennes City Park, 3-7 p.m. Free.

CHESS FOR FUN: Sharp minds select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh

SOLARPUNK BOOK CLUB & GAME NIGHT: Neighbors dream up a socially conscious, ecological future with readings

film music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

review that maps out muscle, fat and water distribution. ActiveVT, Burlington, 2-5 p.m. Free; preregister.

of slow, connected movements. Sponsored by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS: Volunteer coach Andrea Marion leads a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister.

language

HEALTH EQUITY SUMMIT: Health care professionals, community leaders, researchers, advocates and changemakers spark bold conversations, uplift underrepresented voices and drive actionable strategies in the community. Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free; preregister. SEATED TAI CHI: Adina guides at-home participants — including those with limited mobility or difficulty standing — through a sequence

SAT.26

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.23.

music

ANNUAL MEETING: Classical connoisseurs celebrate the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association’s 2025-26 season and look ahead at what’s in store for the upcoming year. 7 p.m. Free. BALA BILA: Two African master musicians play balafon and timbila in an energizing musical conversation. Dibden Center for the

FAMILY FUN

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‘VERY ERIC CARLE’ EXHIBIT: Young bookworms revel in colorful handson installations that transform the beloved author’s stories into interactive journeys of discovery. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $1723; free for members and kids 2 and under.

chittenden county

READ TO A THERAPY DOG: Young literary enthusiasts sit down with a patient pup named Appa for a cozy, stress-free story time. Phoenix Books, Essex, 11 a.m. Free; preregister. RUG CONCERT: Vermont Youth Orchestra enthralls its youngest concertgoers with an interactive morning of music. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 11 a.m. $20; free for kids; preregister. SPIRIT DAY: Families show Redhawk pride at the school’s annual celebration featuring soccer, field hockey, volleyball and football games. Food trucks, live music and face painting complete the day. Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

FALL FEST FOR SAFE & HAPPY CHILDHOODS: A day of meaningful community engagement includes live music, lawn games, resource booths and kids’ activities. Proceeds benefit Prevent Child Abuse Vermont programs. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

‘THE BAFFO BOX SHOW: A COMPACT CARDBOARD COMEDY’: Performed in a one-of-a-kind “suit-stage,” this Modern Times Theater show delivers classic hand puppetry, Dadaist ventriloquism and comedy with impeccable timing. See calendar spotlight. York Street

Arts, Vermont State UniversityJohnson, 7 p.m. $10-25; free for VTSU staff, faculty and students. FEAST & FIELD: EQUINOX CLOSING FESTIVAL WITH SONIDO MAL MAÏZ: Steeped in mythic storytelling and fiery rhythms from Central and South America, a Latin ensemble wraps up a season of farm-fresh dinners and local brews. Fable Farm, Barnard, 6 p.m. $5-25. LIVE MUSIC: A rotating cast of local musicians, unbeatable sunset views, locavore pours and tasty treats make for a memorable time at the vineyard. See maquambarnandwinery.com for lineup. Maquam Barn & Winery, Milton, 6-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink. MUSIC IN TROUBLED TIMES FESTIVAL: See WED.23.

outdoors

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: See WED.23. GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.23.

québec

‘HORS-D’ŒUVRE’: See WED.23.

seminars

STUDIO PRODUCTION: Lights, camera, action! Master the art of production by learning to operate multi-camera setups, conduct live interviews and manipulate green-screen backdrops. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

talks

‘CONFLICT OF INTEREST LIVE!’: Montpelier media host Kevin Ellis migrates his podcast to the stage to interview national and local

Meeting House, Lyndon, 3 & 7 p.m. $1015; free for kids 5 and under.

Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free.

COMIC BOOK CLUB: Young minds work together to create their own comic book at this weekly program encouraging collaboration and creativity. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m. Free.

YOUTH VENDOR DAY: A special edition of the farmers market celebrates young locavores with family-friendly activities and kid-focused guest tablers. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See THU.24. SCENIC ROUTE WEEKENDS: Cider pressing, pumpkin painting, fresh doughnuts and summit views sweeten a day of autumnal revelry for all ages. Jay Peak Resort, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free.

brattleboro/okemo valley

FAIRY HOUSE FESTIVAL: Visitors follow a forest path sprinkled with small structures made of acorns, moss, birchbark and pine cones, then craft their own nature-inspired dwellings. The Nature Museum, Grafton, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Various prices.

SUN.27

burlington

BAM! COMICS LAB FOR KIDS: Expert Jon Chad teaches budding illustrators ages 8 to 12 how to turn blank pages into panel-by-panel stories at this six-part series. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free; preregister. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.23. ‘VERY ERIC CARLE’ EXHIBIT: See SAT.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

chittenden county

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME WITH CHRISTINE: See WED.23. LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: STORY TIME WITH LINDSEY STODDARD: Apple pickers eat up picture books and songs for kids from the local author. Shelburne Orchards, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes. All supplies and instruction provided.

randolph/royalton

JACKSON GILLMAN, THE STAND-UP CHAMELEON: In “Awesome Autumn,” the performance artist, storyteller, comedian and songsmith combines music, dance, mime and sign language to celebrate the bounty and beauty of the season. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See THU.24.

guests about hot-button topics including housing, culture, education and politics. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7 p.m. $10. J.J. GREEN: A veteran national security correspondent dives into topics from his practical field manual, The Noise War: How to Fight Disinformation and Find the Truth When Everything Is Lying to You, in conversation with Champlain College president Alex Hernandez. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister.

tech

‘AI: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY’: For Cyber September, Town of Essex IT director Steve Roque demystifies the algorithmic forces woven into everyday life and considers future impacts. Essex Free Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little kids ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free.

TUE.29

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.23.

MON.28

chittenden county

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.23. ‘SESAME STREET LIVE! ELMO’S GOT THE MOVES’: Young fans find their rhythm when beloved neighborhood characters take the stage for a musical celebration of learning. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 6 p.m. $27.50-52.75. STORIES & CRAFTS: ANIMAL ANTICS: Children ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers unleash their inner creature at a hands-on story session spotlighting a new critter each week. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. ‘VERY ERIC CARLE’ EXHIBIT: See SAT.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

barre/montpelier

FUSE BEADS DAY: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

‘ALL THINGS EQUAL: THE LIFE AND TRIALS OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG’: Revisiting landmark court victories and personal hardships, a sharp monologue-driven play opens the chamber doors on the legacy of a fierce American legal icon. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $37.75-63. ‘DAKAR 2000’: Vermont Stage raises the curtain on Rajiv Joseph’s psychological spy thriller exploring the darker side of U.S. governmental authority and diplomacy abroad. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, THU.24

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FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: ‘FINDING NEMO’: A nervous clown fish embarks on a journey through the ocean to bring home his lost son in this 2003 animated adventure flick. Stockbridge Meeting House, 6 p.m. Free.

upper valley

LEGO TUESDAYS: Youth architects tackle construction challenges or follow their own blueprints at a creative building session complete with snacks. Norwich Public Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

burlington

FAIRY HOUSE FESTIVAL: See SAT.26.

burlington

theater

rutland/killington

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.

brattleboro/okemo valley

TECH HELP: Users with digital dilemmas seek expert guidance about everything from smartphone settings to ebook downloads. Norwich Public Library, 1-4 p.m. Free.

‘VERY ERIC CARLE’ EXHIBIT: See SAT.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

CRAFTYTOWN: Aspiring artists tackle a rotating menu of tactile projects to explore new techniques, then bring home a finished masterpiece. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free. 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.

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading while singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.25.

WED.30

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.23. STORIES & SONGS FOR LIBRARY LITTLES: See WED.23. ‘VERY ERIC CARLE’ EXHIBIT: See SAT.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

chittenden county BABY TIME: See WED.23.

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME WITH CHRISTINE: See WED.23.

barre/montpelier

SWITCH IT UP!: See WED.23.

CRAFT DAY: Youths ages 18 and under flex their creative muscles with various DIY projects. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.23.

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.23.

THE NEST: Good Beginnings of Central Vermont hosts a baby-friendly space where prenatal and postpartum families can connect. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.23.

upper valley

STORY TIME: See WED.23. K

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

calendar « P.67

Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $34-54 sliding scale. ‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’: See WED.23.

words

A VIRTUAL EVENING WITH FOUR WAY BOOKS: The Norwich Bookstore hosts an illuminating Zoom discussion with four acclaimed writers across genres and mediums. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. CREATIVE WRITING SERIES: Expert Marguerite Dunlop hosts a weekly opportunity for aspiring wordsmiths hone their craft, swap constructive feedback and pick up fresh techniques. Refreshments provided. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister. GEORGE’S MYSTERY BOOK GROUP: Patrons chat about this month’s twisty page-turner with resident whodunit expert George Spaulding. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:15-8 p.m. Free. NAT WINTHROP: A local journalist celebrates the release of On the Record, a collection of 17 diverse cover stories from his career, in conversation with fellow writer Gary Miller. Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free. SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB: Lit lovers dissect Kazuo Ishiguro’s 1989 Booker Prize winner, The Remains of the Day, about an aging English butler who looks back on his life of service with regret. Wild Meadows Books & Café, Williston, 6:30 p.m. Free. STEPHEN PAYNE: The local author debuts his latest literary creation — the coming-of-age novel Almost April — at a lively launch party. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. TURNING PAGES WITH MARY: Local radio favorite Mary Cenci of Star 92.9 guides bookish banter centered on Fredrik Backman’s poignant 2025 novel, My Friends. Phoenix Books, Essex, 5:30 p.m. Free. VIRTUAL POETRY OPEN MIC: Wordsmiths read their original verse — or just listen — with local performance poet Bianca Amira Zanella. Presented by Phoenix Books. 7 p.m. Free; preregister.

FRI.25

community

‘WRANGLING THE DRIFT’: Celebrated local storyteller Cindy Pierce shares moving moments from her family’s dementia caregiving journey. Proceeds benefit the Upper Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 7 p.m. $35.

conferences

CIVIL RIGHTS SUMMIT: Advocates, community organizers and justice seekers gather for a two-day conference packed

with skill-building panels and networking opportunities. Vermont State UniversityRandolph, Randolph Center, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

OPENS SEP. 23 | THEATER

dance

A rehearsal of John Proctor Is the Villain

BURLINGTON CONTRA DANCE: No partner or experience is necessary when Julian Blechner calls the steps and Turning Stile provide the tunes. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. A beginner lesson is offered at 6:45 p.m. St. Anthony’s Parish Hall, Burlington, 7-10 p.m. $5-12 cash or check; free for kids under 12. LIVE BAND SWING DANCE: Folks jive and jitterbug the night away to jazz, big band and contemporary tunes from rockabilly outfit Mighty Flea Circus. A free lesson is offered at 7 p.m. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 7:30-10 p.m. $20. ‘MUSIC IN MOTION’: A community arts project brings together local talent for a performance of cello music and original choreography. Bennington Theater, 7 p.m. $25-30.

etc.

‘DUTY AND SERVICE: A CIVIL WAR SAGA’: A two-day history program explores the shared sacrifices and heritage of Milton, Colchester and Georgia, with a keynote address by Vermont author Howard Coffin. Various locations statewide, 5-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted. THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: See WED.23.

COURTESY OF ALIA GONZALEZ

THU.24

Which Witch?

Outright Vermont, Burlington, 8-8:45 a.m. Free.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR: Paranormal historians highlight spooky happenings throughout Burlington at this perennial favorite hailed by Yankee Magazine as one of New England’s best haunted walks. 199 Main St., Burlington, 7 p.m. $25; preregister.

State of the world got you down? Perhaps it’s time for a lesson in taking back some power. Enter Northern Stage’s production of Kimberly Belflower’s Tony-nominated dramedy John Proctor Is the Villain at Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction. The play revisits Arthur Miller’s allegorical nonpareil The Crucible — a dramatization of the Salem witch trials — through a modern feminist lens. Set amid the global social awakening of the #MeToo movement, the hope- and rage-filled work follows a group of high schoolers who begin to question their English teacher’s traditional viewpoints, ultimately leading to the realization that women should (and can) control their own narratives.

fairs & festivals

‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.23.

VERMONT CLIMBING FESTIVAL: Outdoor enthusiasts go to great heights to hone their technical chops and scale up community stewardship during a three-day mountain summit benefiting CRAG-VT. Farr’s Field, Waterbury, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. $60-70.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘BARBARA FOREVER’: Brydie O’Connor’s 2026 documentary artfully frames experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer and her radical, lifelong effort to create an archive of lesbian history. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. ‘THE ELEMENTS OF MUTUAL AID’: Community members watch the first chapter of a four-part docuseries outlining inspiring examples of neighbors meeting each other’s needs in

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Wednesday, September 23, through Friday, September 25, Tuesday, September 29, and Wednesday, September 30, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 26, 6:30 p.m.; and Sunday, September 27, 5 p.m., at Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, in White River Junction. See website for additional dates. $10-84. Info, 802-296-7000, northernstage.org. the U.S. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ‘EVERY DAY: BIG AND SMALL’: A new film by Bess O’Brien uses the 2023 and 2024 summer floods as a backdrop to shed light on Vermonters creating connection, resilience and joy in their communities. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

music doc Stop Making Sense, chronicling the new wave outfit’s 1983 concert at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $25-65. ‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.24.

food & drink

‘SEA OTTERS: A WILD FAMILY ADVENTURE 3D’: See THU.24.

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: An open-air marketplace complete with live music connects cultivators and fresh-food browsers. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6 p.m. Free.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.24.

games

‘PENGUIN ISLAND 3D’: See THU.24.

‘STOP MAKING SENSE’: Talking Heads founding member Jerry Harrison hosts a screening of Jonathan Demme’s visionary

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.24, 10 a.m.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. HEALTH EQUITY SUMMIT: See THU.24, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: Community members gather for an informal session combining stimulating discussion, sharing and sitting in silence. Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. WEEKLY MEDITATION: Expert Zac Ispa-Landa shares tools to quiet the mind, slow down and reset.

language

FRENCH SOCIAL HOUR: The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region hosts a rendez-vous over cocktails. Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; cash bar.

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

PUPPY

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.23.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free.

music

ANA GUIGUI: An acclaimed pianist and vocalist entertains listeners with a wide variety of styles and genres. The Brandon Inn, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. LANE SERIES: BALLAKÉ SISSOKO & PIERS FACCINI: The Malian kora master and British singer-guitarist pull strings across continents, intertwining West African rhythms with folk traditions. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $7.73-39.66. CHAD HOLLISTER TRIO: The beloved Vermont roots rockers stir up a party with infectious rhythms and smooth vocals. Haybarn Theatre, The Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 6:30 p.m. $20-30. DAVID FEURZEIG: In “Play Every Town,” the prolific classical pianist continues a statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Danville Congregational Church, 6 p.m. Free. DRUM CIRCLE WITH JEAN JACQUES MAURY: From mastering basic techniques to building a shared rhythmic vocabulary, an all-abilities music-making session taps into a deep mindbody connection. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6-7 p.m. Free. ‘VIOLIN ALONE’: Green Mountain Chamber Musical Festival founder Kevin Lawrence strikes a poignant chord with a solo recital honoring late friend and music lover Robert Rachlin. Proceeds benefit a scholarship fund in his name. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Donations accepted.

outdoors

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: See WED.23. FALL FOLIAGE HIKE: Unraveling the science behind autumn’s fiery display, nature guides lead an easy 0.7-mile stroll while sharing tips for unearthing other top leaf-peeping routes. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.23.

québec

‘HORS-D’ŒUVRE’: See WED.23.

sports

OPEN DINGHY SAILING: Skippers with sailing knowledge celebrate the end of the week with a nautical adventure. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 4-7 p.m. $40 suggested donation; preregister.

talks

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT FOR EVERYONE FALL LECTURE SERIES: DR. MARLENE TROMP: The University of Vermont’s 28th president shares insights about the shifting landscape of higher education. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members. THE WILLIAM EDDY LECTURE SERIES: JENNIFER ACKERMAN: An award-winning science writer and speaker swoops into the secret lives of owls at this enlightening presentation about their complex biology and behaviors. St. Johnsbury School, 6 p.m. Free.

theater

‘DAKAR 2000’: See THU.24. ‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’: See WED.23. ‘MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS’: The world’s greatest detective searches for clues before the killer can strike again in Borderline Players’ production based on the classic Agatha Christie whodunit. Ages 12 and up. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $10-25.

words

ANDREW RETCHLESS: A local author shares excerpts from his debut magical-realism novel, The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles: Where Time Stands Still, followed by a Q&A and signing. Light refreshments provided. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1 p.m. Free. DANIEL MASON: SOLD OUT. The Pulitzer Prize finalist and international best-selling author celebrates his hilarious and heartfelt new novel, Country People, about an academic California family that moves to rural Vermont. Shelburne Town Hall, 7 p.m. $35; includes copy of book. ROMANTASY BOOK CLUB: Readers dig into Rachel Gillig’s gothic novel, The Knight and the Moth, about a devout seer and a heretical knight who must team up on a quest. Wild Meadows Books & Café, Williston, 6 p.m. Free.

SAT.26

agriculture

BIODIVERSITY BUILDERS WORKSHOPS: A three-part, hands-on gardening series helps green thumbs introduce native plants into their outdoor spaces this growing season. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. GUIDED TOURS: See WED.23.

bazaars

BTV MARKET: Shoppers seeking something unique explore a diverse showcase of wares by local artists, makers and food vendors. Burlington City Hall Park, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

CAMP

GEAR SWAP: Participants find new homes for preloved Patagonia clothing and goods, including packs, tents, boots and cooking items. Patagonia Burlington, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free.

Socialization and Training for pups under 17 weeks

MAKERS MARKET: Browsers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers, distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

Sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Let us do the "heavy lifting" to help you pave the way toward a happy, healthy, well-behaved puppy!

community

‘FOOD FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE’: Five-time Moth StorySLAM winner Bill Torrey charts a course through Vermont’s cultural landscape with heartwarming narratives and seasoned wit. Proceeds benefit the Waterbury Common Market. Waterbury Municipal Building, 4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. 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.

Visit FETCHTHELEASH.BIZ for more info • 85 Pearl St, Burlington 6h-FetchtheLeash091626.indd 2

9/11/26 4:53 PM

‘WRANGLING THE DRIFT’: See FRI.25.

conferences

CIVIL RIGHTS SUMMIT: See FRI.25, 9 a.m.-5:45 p.m.

dance

DAWN DANCE: UVM Contra invites community members of all abilities to kick up their heels and burn the midnight oil through 12 hours of tunes by live local acts. Mann Hall, University of Vermont Trinity Campus, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10-25 suggested donation. ‘FOREST’: Audience members stroll down a quiet dirt road to witness Hannah Dennison’s site-specific choreography and theatrical scenes blooming among the trees. Various Bradford locations, 11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. $30. FULL MOON ECSTATIC DANCE: A free-form boogie session allows participants to let loose in a safe outdoor space around a crackling fire. Dreamland, Worcester, 7-9 p.m. $10-20. VERMONT DANCE ALLIANCE GALA: Five innovative new works developed through the Choreographer’s Seed MicroGrant Program showcase the state’s diverse dance culture. Montpelier Performing Arts Chapel, 6 & 8 p.m. $25-35.

etc.

‘DUTY AND SERVICE: A CIVIL WAR SAGA’: See FRI.25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. FUR FEST GALA: Supporters of the Central Vermont Humane Society come together for a fundraiser with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and inspiring stories. Haybarn Theatre, The Creative Campus SAT.26

» P.70 SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

calendar SAT.26

« P.69

at Goddard, Plainfield, 5:30 p.m. $60. THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: See WED.23. MINGLE AT THE MUSEUM: Musical stylings by Ernest James Zydeco soundtrack an evening of food, drink and dancing. Proceeds support museum operations. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, 5-7 p.m. $50; free for kids. MONTHLY SWAPORTUNITY: Collectors and enthusiasts trade, sell and showcase their nerdy goods, from vintage video games to rare figurines. Old Town Cafe & Comics, Williston, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR: See FRI.25. ROLLER DISCO FUNDRAISER: Party people of all ages boogie down — on wheels! — to benefit local nonprofit Outright Vermont. Helmets required. 20 Allen St., Burlington, 3-5 p.m. $10-15. VOLUNTEER DAY: Helpful hands come together to restore shrub lands on museum grounds. Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

fairs & festivals

BRISTOL HARVEST FESTIVAL: Autumn’s bounty inspires an arts, food and crafts extravaganza, accented by live music, kids’ activities and pony rides. Bristol Town Green, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. BURKE FALL FESTIVAL: Autumn enthusiasts gather on the town green for a foliage-inspired grand parade, dozens of artisans, live music and quirky farmstead games. East Burke Village, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. CABOT CHEESE AND CULTURE FESTIVAL: Curd connoisseurs and fermentation fans sample local foods and drinks while connecting with the artisans behind Vermont’s agricultural traditions. Cabot Village Common, noon-5 p.m. Free. CHILI★FEST: Hot stuff! Chefs ladle up fiery varieties of this one-pot meal amid live entertainment, street bingo, cider tasting and a silent auction. Saxtons River Community Building, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free; add $10 for cook-off. FALL FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTS: Experience foliage season in the Northeast Kingdom with this ode to autumn, featuring historic demos, steam engine displays and family fun. Downtown St. Johnsbury, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. FOREST FESTIVAL: Vermont’s only national historical park hosts horse-drawn wagon rides, woodcraft workshops, guided nature walks and other activities showcasing these working woods in action. Marsh-BillingsRockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

revelers enjoy German beer, traditional music, cornhole games, ax throwing and stein holding contests. The Green at the Essex Experience, 2-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink. OKTOBERFEST: Revelers hoist house-brewed festbiers infused with homegrown hops, sample autumn-inspired fare and partake in spirited seasonal games. Idletyme Brewing Company, Stowe, 3-9 p.m. Free. OKTOBERFEST WEEKEND: Lederhosen meets leaf-peeping with live polka music, Bavarian food and drink offerings, a stein-holding challenge, and other autumnal activities on the mountain. Bolton Valley Resort, noon-4 p.m. Free. ROCKTOBERFEST: Live acts take the stage for a fall fête featuring local vendors, outdoor games, kids’ activities, and bites and brews. Don’t miss the new Waiter Tray Sprint! Various Morristown locations, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. VERMONT BEAUTY SHOW: Industry professionals clip, comb and style for cash prizes while turning heads in a lively showcase of regional talent. Doubletree Hotel, South Burlington, 3 p.m. $30; $50 for two adults. VERMONT CLIMBING FESTIVAL: See FRI.25, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘BARBARA FOREVER’: See FRI.25, 1 p.m. ‘EVERY DAY: BIG AND SMALL’: See FRI.25. Williston Central School, 7 p.m. $15. MET OPERA IN HD: ‘TWENTY YEARS OF THE MET IN CINEMAS’: Superstar soprano Renée Fleming hosts an archive-spanning retrospective that hits the high notes of two decades of grand opera broadcast to the silver screen. Loew Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1 p.m. $22. ‘THE MISANTHROPE’: Sandra Oh stars as a woman facing bitter backlash for speaking her mind in the workplace in this razor-sharp take on Molière’s dark comedy, filmed live on stage at the National Theatre in London. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 1 p.m. $6-15. MOVIE NIGHT ON THE GREEN: ‘E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL’: Sci-fi fans cozy up with blankets and popcorn to watch Steven Spielberg’s 1982 blockbuster about a gentle alien who befriends a young boy named Elliott. Danville Town Green, 6:30 p.m. Free. ‘PENGUIN ISLAND 3D’: See THU.24. ‘SEA OTTERS: A WILD FAMILY ADVENTURE 3D’: See THU.24. ‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.24. ‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.24.

OKTOBERFEST: Decked out in dirndls and lederhosen, fall 70 SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

food & drink

BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET: Live local music lends flair to dozens of stands overflowing with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: Talented artisans and vendors showcase their farmfresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies. St. Joseph’s Church, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. CHILI COOK-OFF: The heat is on! This mouthwatering annual affair offers live music by EnerJazz Big Band, activities for kiddos and, of course, samples of the tasty titular dish. Downtown Poultney, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. CHILIFEST: Local chefs serve up samples of secret recipes alongside seasonal quilt, photography and scarecrow contest displays. Various Newport locations, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. FRIENDS OF THE ATHENAEUM PIE SALE: Local bakers serve up autumnal pastries homemade with love to benefit the library’s programming. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 9-11 a.m. $20 per pie. NORTHWEST FARMERS MARKET: Browsers stock up on produce, preserves, baked goods and other treasures to the beat of live music. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. ST. JOHNSBURY FARMERS MARKET: Growers, bakers, makers and crafters gather weekly at booths centered on local eats. Pearl St. & Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

games

CHESS CLUB: Proficient players of all ages face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m. Free. D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

CIRQUE SERIES: Trail runners test their mettle against gravity and granite, tackling a steep, 7.1-mile Alpine scramble that ascends more than 3,000 vertical feet. Jay Peak Resort, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. $99. CROHN’S AND COLITIS PATIENT & CAREGIVER EDUCATIONAL EVENT: Attendees get the opportunity to hear from doctors, connect with others, receive helpful information and ask gastroenterology-related questions. Davis Auditorium, Medical Education Center Pavilion, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.noon. $10; preregister. WALK TO DEFEAT ALS: Participants pound the pavement to bring visibility to the

terminal neurodegenerative condition commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 11:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

language

FRENCH BOOK SWAP: Francophiles refresh their personal libraries by trading up to three well-loved works for new titles. Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

music

ADDISON STRING QUARTET: Classical movements meet modern pop and rock arrangements at a lively morning concert by the local four-piece. Proceeds benefit Middlebury Community Music Center. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 11 a.m. $10-50 sliding scale.

high-energy, guitar-driven live performances delivers soulful roots music. Seven Stars Arts Center, Sharon, 7 p.m. $20-25. OUTPOUR ‘26: Three bands, local food offerings, fun-filled activities and a raffle make for a memorable afternoon supporting Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity. Sugarbush Resort, Warren, 2-8 p.m. $25. PARTY ON THE BRICKS: Each week, different Vermont outfits set the tone for an outdoor bash on the marketplace while listeners dig into local food and drinks. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 3:30-6 p.m. Free.

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.25.

PATTI CASEY, COLIN MCCAFFREY & ERIC O’HARA: Local folk musicians with a mutual love of traditional genres assume the spotlight for an entertaining evening of powerhouse vocals and string wizardry. Vergennes Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $20-25.

CHAD HOLLISTER BAND: Heartfelt lyrics propel catchy pop-rock tunes from the celebrated Vermont roots rockers. The Big Picture Community Hub for the Arts, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. $20-65.

PERCUSSION CLINIC: So you wanna be a drummer? Interested folks ages 12 and up check out kits, talk with players about their experiences and sit in on a drum set. NEK-TV, Newport, 11 a.m. $5; preregister.

‘A CONCERT FOR JOAN LAKE AND FRIENDS’: Soprano Tricia Suriani, tenor David Naughton and pianist Thomas Lawrence Toscano present works by Frédéric Chopin and other luminaries to benefit the town’s Community Nurse Project. Grafton Community Church, 6 p.m. By donation.

SPLASH DANCE: DJ MATT HAGEN: The local music mixer keeps the energy surging at an accessible splash pad as families cool off to a beat-heavy blend of funk, soul and global grooves. Burlington City Hall Park, 1-3 p.m. Free.

COUNTERPOINT: The Montpelier ensemble joins forces with the Opera Company of Middlebury for a powerful program titled “Patria Oppressa,” featuring operatic laments over oppression and protests against tyranny. Norwich Congregational Church, 7:30 p.m. $10-40.

VERMONT SYMPHONIC WINDS: ‘MOSAIC’: A dynamic wind ensemble performs pieces honoring trans activists, African American cultural greetings and American icons alongside the premiere of “Revelations” by rising local composer Holden Friesel. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7-8:30 p.m. $10-15; free for children under 12.

FIVE FOR FIGHTING WITH STRING QUARTET: Soft-rock singer-songwriter John Ondrasik performs nostalgic hits the likes of “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” and “100 Years,” backed by the resonant sounds of classical musicians. Spruce Peak Arts, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $53.15-63.85.

‘VOYAGE: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF JOURNEY’: Don’t stop believin’ in this tribute band’s ability to channel the soaring harmonies and signature guitar solos that defined an era of rock history. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7-9 p.m. $35-55.

KOTOKO BRASS: Traditional Ghanaian drumming, Caribbean bass and keys, and joyous New Orleans brass meld in a musical melting pot. The Putney Inn, 3 p.m. $24-28; free for kids under 12.

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: See WED.23.

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: LONESOME POSSUM (AND FRIENDS): An old-time acoustic folk act features the talents of local musicians Jojo and James on fiddle and bass. Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m. Free. THE LOOP SERIES: THE CONVERSATIONS TRIO: Listeners step inside the artistic process of a dynamic jazz and poetry outfit, featuring pianist Bill Vitek, bassist Ron White and verse master Burnham Holmes. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 6 p.m. $8-15; cash bar. LYNNE HANSON: A Canadian singer-songwriter known for her

outdoors

AUTUMN BIRDWATCHING: Binocular-toting naturalists traverse meadow trails lined with open-air artwork to track migrating travelers and resident fliers with Green Mountain Bird Alliance. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, 9-11 a.m. Free; preregister. BIRD MONITORING WALK: Flocking to forests, meadows and trails, feathered-friend enthusiasts of all skill levels tally local species on a monthly stroll. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 8 a.m. $10-15 suggested donation. GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.23, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. LEAVE THE LEAVES: FORESTS & MEADOWS OF COLD HOLLOW SCULPTURE PARK: On a guided stroll, Franklin County forester

Charlie Hancock turns autumnal glory and decaying leaves into a master class on woodland ecosystems. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. SENSING THE SEASON: Nature lovers hone their observation abilities to study seasonal shifts at this guided outdoor stroll ending in shared discoveries. Rock Point Center, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. WEEKLY BIRD WALK: Avian admirers join expert Lachlan Ziegler for a morning trek to sharpen their identification skills. Rock Point Center, Burlington, 8-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

québec

‘HORS-D’ŒUVRE’: See WED.23, 4 p.m.

seminars

PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP WITH JOHN CARIANI: The veteran actor and writer helps aspiring and stalled dramatists turn their half-baked ideas and blank pages into finished scripts. Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 3 p.m. Free.

sports

FALL CLASSIC WIFFLE BALL TOURNAMENT: Players of all skill levels step up to the plate to benefit the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and SLAMT1D. Little Fenway Park, Essex, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. FALL COMMUNITY FISHING DAY: Aspiring anglers hook into the basics of regulations and techniques at a hands-on introduction to waterfront casting. Gear provided. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister. FALL FUNDO: Cyclists pedal scenic autumn routes of four different distances, rallying donors to support community bike

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

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programs before celebrating at a postride party. Old Spokes Home, Burlington, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $65-105.

theater

‘CONTROL TOP’: Unzipping the hidden pressures stitched into women’s wardrobes, Vermont playwright Carole Vasta Folley’s original stage comedy examines body politics with unfiltered, heart-to-heart humor. Ages 13 and up. Shelburne Town Hall, 7 p.m. $18-20. ‘DAKAR 2000’: See THU.24, 2 & 7:30 p.m. ‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’: See WED.23, 6:30 p.m. ‘MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS’: See FRI.25. ‘ZIP ZAP ZOMBIES: ACTORS AND THE APOCALYPSE’: Local playwright Josie Munroe’s original dark comedy follows a group of adult actors trapped inside a theater while a zombie apocalypse rages outside. Springfield Community Players Studio, 7 p.m. $15-20.

words

BOOKS & BULB SALE: Bibliophiles peruse a wide array of paperbacks, hardcovers and blooms-to-be priced to sell. Proceeds benefit the library. Cutler Memorial Library, Plainfield, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 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. WRITE NOW!: Wordsmiths of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m. Free.

SUN.27

agriculture

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.23, 1-2 p.m.

bazaars

GEAR SWAP: See SAT.26.

community

MOBILE PET FOOD SHELF: Animal owners in need stock up on pet products, with no residency or income requirements. Winooski Senior Center, 1-3 p.m. Free.

dance

‘FOREST’: See SAT.26.

etc.

THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: See WED.23. ‘REAL VERMONTERS DON’T MILK GOATS’ CELEBRATION: Locals flock to the 43rd-anniversary edition tour of the best-selling book of humor by Frank M. Bryan and the late Bill Mares, hosted by local comedian

Rusty DeWees. Bagels and coffee provided. The Alchemist, Stowe, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

and handcrafted wares tempts shoppers. Stowe Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

fairs & festivals

SUNDAY WINE TASTING: Oenophiles swirl and sip their way through a rotating selection of vinos while learning about the producers and regions behind the pours. Bar Renée, Burlington, 1-4 p.m. $5-8.

MARSHFIELD HARVEST FESTIVAL: ’Tis the season for cider pressing, field games, chicken races, wagon rides and other autumnal activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. OKTOBERFEST WEEKEND: See SAT.26. SNAKE MOUNTAIN CAR SHOW & VENDOR FAIR: Auto enthusiasts shift into high gear at a revvedup display of vehicles and locally made treasures. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits. Addison County Fairgrounds, New Haven, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. ST. J & L.C. WEEKEND: All aboard! A fun and fascinating celebration of the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad includes museum tours, displays, ephemera, talks, vintage films and the ceremonial driving of a golden spike. Hardwick Historical Society, 1 p.m. Free. VERMONT CLIMBING FESTIVAL: See FRI.25, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. VERMONT PUMPKIN CHUCKIN’ FESTIVAL: Mechanical wizards of all ages build trebuchets to toss pumpkins for distance and prizes. Proceeds benefit the Clarina Howard Nichols Center. Stowe Events Field, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $10.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘EVERY DAY: BIG AND SMALL’: See FRI.25. Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $15. ‘OUR HOSPITALITY’: Composer Jeff Rapsis plays a live score for this 1923 silent classic starring Buster Keaton as a young man unknowingly at the center of a long-running family feud. Fairlee Town Hall Auditorium, 2 p.m. Free; donations accepted. ‘PENGUIN ISLAND 3D’: See THU.24. ‘SEA OTTERS: A WILD FAMILY ADVENTURE 3D’: See THU.24. ‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.24. ‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.24.

food & drink

your

Foliage fantasies

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET: More than 25 area growers and bakers offer local and global fare against a backdrop of live music and activities. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.24, 1 p.m.

say you saw it in

LEARN MAGIC: THE GATHERING: Novice players learn deck-building basics and strategies to master the legendary fantasy tabletop game. Cards and decks provided. South Burlington Public Library & City 12v-sayyousawit.indd 2 Hall, noon-2:30 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

CHASE AWAY 5K: Paws and sneakers hit the pavement to raise vital research funds for Chase Away K9 Cancer. Friendly, leashed dogs welcome. Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington, 9-11 a.m. $25-40. DAY TRIPPER: GUIDED DAYLONG BIKE TOUR: Cyclists coast across Lake Champlain via a dedicated bike ferry to sample local wines and soak in island scenery on a expert-led rail-trail ride. Local Motion, Burlington, 8:15 a.m. $230-250. KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. NEW LEAF SANGHA MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators alike sit together in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. NEW MINDFULNESS MEDITATION GATHERING: Certified instructors lead hourlong sessions of the ancient contemplative practice rooted in compassion and generosity. Hood Plant, Burlington, 5:306:30 p.m. By donation.

FERMENTATION CELEBRATION: Foodies celebrate the weird and wonderful world of fermentation at a showcase of pickled products, kombucha, kefir and other anaerobic goodies. Root 5 Farm, Fairlee, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

lgbtq

ROYALTON FARMERS MARKET: Twenty local vendors offer everything from fresh produce to prepared foods to artisan goods while kids’ activities, live music and workshops build community. South Royalton Town Green, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

STOWE FARMERS MARKET: An appetizing assortment of fresh veggies, pasture-raised meats, milk, berries, herbs, beverages

Fulfill

BOARD GAME DAY: LGBTQ+ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 1-6 p.m. Free.

QUEER READS BOOK CLUB: Lovers of LGBTQ+ literature lead a colorful discussion of Eva Baltasar’s novel Boulder, about a Catalan woman who trades a SUN.27

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settled life for isolation, only to have her world reshaped by an unexpected bond. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

music

COUNTERPOINT: See SAT.26. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 p.m. HAIRPEACE: A long-running acoustic folk, rock, Americana and bluegrass duo gets toes tapping and hands clapping. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 3 p.m. $20; free for children under 12. LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: QUEEN CITY CUT-UPS: An acoustic Americana outfit from Burlington displays its intricate harmonies, lyrics and fingerpicking for outdoor listeners. Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m. Free. LIVE MUSIC: See THU.24, 2:304:30 p.m. LYNNE HANSON: See SAT.26, Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 4-6 p.m. $20 suggested donation. MUSIC IN TROUBLED TIMES FESTIVAL: See WED.23, 2 p.m. NICK VAN BLOSS: A worldrenowned classical pianist captivates with Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental — and rarely performed — Goldberg Variations. Trinity Episcopal Church, Rutland, 3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. PAUL ORGEL: A lauded pianist plays a vast and varied repertoire of works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Francis Poulenc, Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 3 p.m. By donation; free for University of Vermont students. RIVER RHYTHMS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Good tunes and good times meet at this outdoor music series that includes a beer garden and local food vendors. Juana’s Garden, Montpelier, every 14 days, 4-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted. THE SMITHEREENS: One of America’s most enduring and influential rock bands delivers classic hits the likes of “Blood and Roses” and “Behind the Wall of Sleep” with help from guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $48-58.

of the traditional equestrian team sport. Amdez Polo Club, Shelburne, 3 p.m. $10-20.

theater

‘CONTROL TOP’: See SAT.26, 2 p.m. ‘DAKAR 2000’: See THU.24, 2 p.m. ‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’: See WED.23, 5 p.m. ‘MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS’: See FRI.25, 3 p.m. ‘A POINT IN TIME: IN THEIR OWN WORDS’: Unearthing period accounts from generals, chaplains and foot soldiers, a cast of historical figures breathes life into the tense months surrounding the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Valcour Island. Mount Independence State Historic Site, Orwell, 2-3:30 p.m. Regular admission, $1-8; free for children under 6. ‘ZIP ZAP ZOMBIES: ACTORS AND THE APOCALYPSE’: See SAT.26, 2 p.m.

words

BOOKS & BULB SALE: See SAT.26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. WORDS OUT LOUD: ‘DON’T FORGET TO WRITE’: Authors Emma Paris and Ted Levin share their compelling and unique perspectives on the written word. Old West Church, Calais, 3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. ‘ZIG ZAG LIT MAG’ ISSUE 21 RELEASE PARTY: Local writers, artists and literary enthusiasts gather to toast a fresh volume of poetry and prose with craft cocktails and live readings. Anderson Room. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 4-6:15 p.m. Donations accepted.

MON.28 etc.

THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: See WED.23. MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.23. ‘PHILADELPHIA II’ OPEN HOURS: See WED.23.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘PENGUIN ISLAND 3D’: See THU.24.

outdoors

‘SEA OTTERS: A WILD FAMILY ADVENTURE 3D’: See THU.24.

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: See WED.23.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.24.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.23, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.24.

sports

PÉTANQUE: The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region invites locals to join in a friendly afternoon of France’s national pastime. Calahan Park, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. SUNDAY POLO MATCH: Pack a tailgate picnic and prepare to experience the fast-paced thrill

games

BURLINGTON ELKS BINGO: Players grab their daubers for a competitive night of card stamping for cash prizes. Burlington Elks Lodge, 6 p.m. Various prices. MAH-JONGG MONDAYS: Tile traders gather for friendly bouts of the ancient game of skill, strategy and luck. St. Albans Free Library, 1-3 p.m. Free.

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

health & fitness

MONTPELIER INSIGHT MEDITATION: Practitioners of all levels gather to quiet mental chatter and boost physical well-being at a weekly mindfulness session. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 6-7:15 p.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.23.

music

ONION RIVER CHORUS REHEARSAL: The non-auditioned community ensemble conducted by Richard Riley invites interested vocalists to join in spirited song. Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 7-9 p.m. Free.

outdoors

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: See WED.23. GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.23. NATURE SKETCHING: Artists of all abilities hone their observational skills by capturing the museum’s buildings, boats and plants on the page. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 1-3 p.m. Free.

seminars

FLOOD & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Flood resilience educator Alison Spasyk shares pertinent information to help local residents weather storms and other unexpected natural disasters. Refreshments provided. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

talks

SOARING WITH THE KUAKA: MIGRATIONS OF KNOWLEDGE & FUTURE-MAKING FROM AOTEAROA TO ADDISON COUNTY’: A delegation of colleagues from Aotearoa and New Zealand discusses the role of purakau (storytelling), waiata (song) and whakatauki (proverbs) in Indigenous Maori and Polynesian practices of well-being. Dana Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury College, 5 p.m. Free.

theater

SHAKESPEARE OUT LOUD: Thespians, language lovers and listeners gather to give voice to tragic star-crossed lovers in an unstructured, open-role script reading of the Bard’s Romeo and Juliet. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

words

ANIME GROUP: Fans of Japanese animation and comics convene weekly to swap ideas, read stories and connect over shared interests in hand-drawn media. Pathways Vermont Morgan’s Place Peer Support Center, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

ITALIAN BOOK CLUB: Intermediate and experienced Italian speakers read and discuss Haitian Alpine skier Richardson Viano’s biography, Ad Haiti Sognavo La Neve. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Free.

much-loved green space. BYO gloves encouraged. Burlington City Hall Park, 8-8:30 a.m. Free.

MARINA RICHIE & TRISH O’KANE: Words fly back and forth between the author of Feathered Forest: Aloft With Birds in Ancient Trees and a Vermont avian expert. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: See WED.23.

READ LIKE A WRITER: New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for bibliophiles to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

‘PROTECTING OUR WATERSHED: UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN’: See THU.24.

etc.

SPITFIRE SHIPWRECK VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE: See THU.24.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘THRESHING DAY’ MIDNIGHT RELEASE PARTY: Night-owl bookworms stay up late to reap the harvest of Rebecca Yarros’ highly anticipated new romantasy release. Phoenix Books, Essex, 10 p.m.-midnight. Free.

PALESTINE FILM SERIES: ‘THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB’: Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated 2025 documentary follows frantic rescue workers racing to save a 5-year-old girl trapped in a car under fire in Gaza. Worthen Library, South Hero, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

TUE.29

‘SEA OTTERS: A WILD FAMILY ADVENTURE 3D’: See THU.24.

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

conferences

VERMONT SUMMIT: ENERGY, HEALTH & THE ECONOMY WITH NATE HAGENS: Concerned locals address interconnected challenges and explore topics that help illuminate a path toward a more sustainable future. Grand Maple Ballroom, Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free; preregister.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. WATERCOLOR DROP-IN: Painters bring their own supplies to a weekly, instruction-free session to brush up on their skills in a communal setting. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free.

environment

‘AN INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL POWER PLANTS’: In this webinar hosted by Clean Energy Group, experts in the field cover the basics of decentralized energy devices and how they can create value for both utilities and customers. 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. MINI CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans turn their morning routine into civic pride by tidying up and refreshing the city’s

‘PENGUIN ISLAND 3D’: See THU.24.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.24. STOKE FEST: Protect Our Winters and Burton cohost an evening of documentary shorts, community dialogue and meaningful climate action. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 6 & 9 p.m. $15. ‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.24.

health & fitness

BEGINNER TAI CHI: Weight transference and mindful breathing help practitioners cultivate agility through a contemporary sequence of quintessential martial arts postures. Virtual option available. Unitarian Universalist Church, Springfield, 10-11 a.m. Free. COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and slow, gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free. YOGA AS A HEALING ART: HOPE Works hosts a supportive series for survivors of sexual violence, inviting participants to explore healing through movement, meditation and discussion. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.23. ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard

Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. PAUSE-CAFÉ MARDI: Francophones and Frenchlanguage learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5-7 p.m. Free. SPANISH CONVERSATION: ¿Hablas español? Conversationalists of all levels practice the Romance language in a stress-free environment. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free.

music

VERMONT’S FREEDOM & UNITY CHORUS: Singers come together for a weekly rehearsal inspiring positive change through the power of music. Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

outdoors

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: See WED.23.

politics

VERMONT ELECTION INTEGRITY: Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas shares what her office is doing to ensure that elections remain free, fair and accessible in a candid presentation and Q&A. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6 p.m. Free.

seminars

BASICS CLASS: NAMI Vermont hosts an informative weekly seminar for individuals with a loved one who is struggling with mental health. 6-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. YOUR PODCAST, YOUR WAY: Mic-ready creators find their dynamic frequency, learning to map narrative arcs, sharpen branding and navigate editing tools for an audibly polished launch. The

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

EZ BREEZY BIKE RIDES: Cyclists gain confidence at this funfilled, casual group loop around the Queen City. Local Motion, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

VERMONT WOMEN’S MENTOR TRAINING: Offering a steady hand and a fresh start, volunteers step up to pair with formerly incarcerated individuals and help navigate the road to community reentry. Mercy Connections, Burlington, 5:307:30 p.m. Free.

talks

crafts

Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

sports

THE 2026 SAMUEL HAND LECTURE: ROGER ALLBEE: In “Vermont Agriculture: A Renaissance of the Past,” the former Vermont secretary of agriculture shares how changing landscapes and shifting markets have continuously reshaped the state’s working lands. Refreshments provided. Billings Library, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free. BETH BARNES: Vermont Holocaust Memorial president Beth Barnes presents on “Lessons From Anne Frank’s Story: Discovery, Choice and the Holocaust.” Lanpher Memorial Library, Hyde Park, 6 p.m. Free. STEPHANIE SAVAGE: A New York University PhD candidate in archaeology shares her illuminating research about Megalopolis, Greece, including digital reconstructions of the ancient city’s walls. A Q&A follows. Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 4:30 p.m. Free.

theater

‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’: See WED.23.

words

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Over the course of nine weeks, readers analyze Mircea Cărtărescu’s 2015 surrealist novel, Solenoid, about a high school teacher in 1970s Communist Romania who records his nightmarish daily life in a diary. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. MARINA RICHIE: An awardwinning nature writer entwines the lives of birds with the hidden vertical world of wild trees in her new book, Feathered Forest. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. WRITER’S CIRCLE: Creative sparks fly as participants tackle curated prompts and read their latest drafts aloud in a collaborative environment. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont Morgan’s Place Peer Support Center, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.30 agriculture

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.23. WEDNESDAYS WITH FARMER FRED: See WED.23.

community

COFFEE & CONVERSATION: See WED.23.

YARN & YAK: See WED.23. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.23.

dance

SQUARE DANCE CLUB: See WED.23.

SAMARA JOY & HER SEPTET: Rooted in gospel and R&B, a Grammy Award-winning vocalist channels classic jazz traditions at this performance of smooth, soulful standards. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $42.50-84.50. SUMMER LIVE MUSIC SERIES: See WED.23.

outdoors

THE AMAZING CORN MAZE: See WED.23. GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.23.

seminars

etc.

FAMILY‑TO‑FAMILY CLASS: See WED.23.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.23.

GOOGLE SHEETS & BUDGETING: Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity helps spreadsheet novices use tools to crunch the numbers and keep their personal finances in check. 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

THE HARDWICK HOP: A FALL FOLIAGE PASSPORT: See WED.23. ‘PHILADELPHIA II’ OPEN HOURS: See WED.23.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.23. CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.23. DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: See WED.23. MARKET ON THE GREEN: See WED.23.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.23. WHALEBOAT WEDNESDAYS: See WED.23.

talks

FRAUD ON TAP: SCAM‑SMART TRIVIA NIGHT: Through an engaging test of knowledge, AARP Vermont sheds light on common scammer tactics, practical prevention strategies and what to do if you’re targeted. Burlington Beer, 4-5 p.m. Free; preregister.

PETER HARRIGAN: In “Baker vs. State: Making Headlines, Making Change,” a plaintiff in Vermont’s Freedom to Marry lawsuit reflects on the tumultuous days leading to the Civil Union law and the steps the state has taken for marriage equality since then. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 5:30 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

tech

games

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.23. INTRODUCTION TO TAI CHI: Flowing movements and gentle postures ground a beginner lesson in the mind-body martial art. Long Wind Tai Chi, East Thetford, 6-7:15 p.m. Free. RECOVERY DHARMA: See WED.23.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.23.

lgbtq

THE ALL‑INCLUSIVE DYKE‑ TACULAR: See WED.23.

music

INSUN PARK & GENERALS: The venue’s fall artists-in-residence offer a fresh perspective on Korea’s cultural heritage with a joyful performance of traditional music and mask dancing. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 6:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation. LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: THE MEATPACKERS: See WED.23. MUSIC IN TROUBLED TIMES FESTIVAL: See WED.23, 7:30 p.m. MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.23.

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CYBERSECURITY 101: Town of Essex IT director Steve Roque decodes digital defense strategies to help attendees patch security holes in their online accounts, digital wallets and personal data. Essex Free Library, noon-1:30 p.m. Free.

theater

‘THE FORD/HILL PROJECT’: Obie Award-winning theater company Waterwell presents a powerful and timely drama interweaving the testimonies of Anita Hill and Christine Blasey Ford before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Wright Memorial Theatre, Middlebury College, 7:30 p.m. $5-30. ‘HAMLET’: In Teatro La Plaza’s radically reimagined drama, eight actors with Down syndrome rewrite the rules of Shakespeare’s tragedy, weaving classic scenes with personal stories. Ages 14 and up. Moore Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $25.

REAL PEOPLE. REAL JOBS. Introduce yourself to reps from these fine local organizations at Tech Jam!

OTHER EXHIBITORS • Accessible Web • Aprexis • ARC Business Solutions • Burlington Telecom • Center for Technology, Essex • Champlain Cable • Community College of Vermont • Creare • Creative Micro • GoCaboodle • GPMS International • Green Mountain Power • Hack Club • Hayward Tyler Inc. • Husky Technologies • Launch VT SUPP ORTING PARTNERS • NDI • The Targeted Resume • OnLogic • WCAX • Oru • Vermont Public • PCC Pediatrics EHR Health Solutions • Prime Engineering LLC TECH JAM BOOT CAMP • State of Vermont | Agency of Digital Services FRIDAY, OCT. 16, 12-1 P.M BEFORE • UVM Advance Learn helpful tips on THE JAM • VELCO networking and getting hired • Waitsfield and Champlain Valley at this free, pre-Jam webinar Telecom hosted by Sue Schlom of • Wildlife Imaging Systems the Targeted Resume. COMMUNITY PARTNERS • BETA Technologies • Champlain College WANT TO • Data Innovations EXHIBIT? • GBIC SPACE IS LIMITED. • GlobalFoundries TECHJAM@ • Hazelett SEVENDAYSVT. • Hula COM • Marvell • Northfield Savings Bank • Norwich University • Simmonds Precision • UVM Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) • Vermont Technology Council • Vermont State University • VTel

PRESENT

‘JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN’: See WED.23. ➆

SATURDAY, OCT. 24 • HULA, BURLINGTON • FREE R E G I S T E R A T T E C H J A M V T. C O M

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

9/22/26 2:23 PM

MORE CLASS LISTINGS ONLINE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS HERE FOR AS LITTLE AS $21.25/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). NEWSPAPER DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 3 P.M. POST CLASS ADS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS. GET HELP AT CLASSES@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

arts & crafts

up this mouth-watering meal, you’ll finish with a complimentary mango kulfi (frozen dairy dessert) to celebrate all your hard work. Date: Sat., Oct. 17, 4 p.m. Cost: $70. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 3 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, info@richmondcommunity kitchen.com, sevendays tickets.com.

LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY: In this four-week workshop, you’ll learn the techniques and history of landscape photography and how to use your camera’s manual settings, build stronger photographic compositions and edit your landscape images. Required: DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual settings and a USB drive or external hard drive. Students will have access to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop in the CVU photography lab during class hours, so no personal software is required. Ages 16-plus. Dates: Tue., Oct. 6-Nov. 3, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $165/person. Location: Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg. Info: CVU Access, 802-482-7194, access@cvsdvt.org, accesscvu. arux.app. START SEWING! THE FOUNDATIONS OF GARMENT SEWING: If you are interested in learning the basics of clothing construction and would like to create a wearable garment, then this course is for you! In this eight-week course (20 hours), students will learn essential garment sewing techniques while constructing a button-down oversized (unisex) shirt. You’ll build skills in pattern reading, fabric selection, seam finishes, fitting adjustments, hemming and excellent garment construction techniques. Dates: Mon., Sep. 28-Nov. 16, 6-8:30 p.m. Cost: $385/person. Location: Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg. Info: Access CVU, 802-482-7194, access@cvsdvt.org, accesscvu. arux.app. WOODWORKING LATHE WORKSHOPS: From wood bowl turning to making wooden vases, table legs, trees, candlesticks, rolling pins, pens, mushrooms, tree ornaments and so much more, we invite you to join expert wood turners Nick Rosato, Andrew Duling and Eddie Krasnow as they teach you how to use a lathe. Classes are small, and each person gets a lathe. Courses vary from one or two sessions up to 10 sessions. Learn a skill, start a hobby, and make a keepsake to gift or use! Costs & dates vary. Location: Champlain Valley Union High School, 369

CVU Rd., Hinesburg. Info: Access CVU, 802-482-7194, access@ cvsdvt.org, accesscvu.arux.app. INTRODUCTION TO WELDING FABRICATION: This hands-on technical course is designed for all levels, whether you’re brand-new to welding, looking to sharpen your skills or simply want access to a fully equipped welding shop. Beginners will cover welding of carbon steel using oxy-acetylene torches, SMAW (arc or stick welding), GMAW (MIG or wire feed welding), GTAW (TIG welding), oxy-fuel and plasma cutting. Experienced attendees can weld stainless and aluminum. Ages 16-plus. Session 1: Mon., Sep. 28-Oct. 26; Session 2: Mon., Nov. 9-Dec. 14, 5:30-8 p.m. Cost: $385/person. Location: Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg. Info: ACCESS CVU, 802-482-7194, access@cvsdvt. org, accesscvu.arux.app.

food & drink CLASSIC INDIAN VEGETARIAN COOKING: Come and learn how to make three popular Indian dishes from scratch: creamy palak paneer (spinach and cottage cheese curry), fragrant jeera rice (cumin-flavored basmati rice), and refreshing cucumber-carrot raita (yogurt dip). After cooking

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

INTRODUCTION TO VERMONT CHEESE: Join Amy Todd, an expert in food and beverage tasting, and taste your way through different styles of cheese made in Vermont. Two classes are offered: general and cheddar-specific. You’ll discuss the difference between taste and flavor and explore the type of milk used, its production location, techniques and where to buy it locally. Resources, including books and a list of local shops, will be provided. Dates: Wed. Sep. 30, or Wed., Oct 21, 6:30-8 p.m. Cost: $40/person. Location: Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg. Info: ACCESS CVU, 802-482-7194, access@cvsdvt. org, accesscvu.arux.app.

healing arts

will allow you to uncover the forces that have been controlling your decisions and behaviors and teach you how to rewrite, rewire and reframe your story so you can let go of limiting beliefs and launch yourself into the best-feeling time of your life! You will learn leading-edge techniques to release anxiety, clarify your goals, reduce physical pain, break through at every level and reignite your passion! Date: Fri., Oct. 23, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $60. Location: Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, 2 Duane Ct., Middlebury. Info: Serenity Snow, 541-550-8864, limitlesspotential2026@gmail. com, limitlesspotential10x.com.

MASTER YOUR MINDSET, MASTER YOUR LIFE!: This threehour, fully immersive workshop

language FRENCH: BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, CONVERSATION & TRAVEL: Offering four levels of French, meeting in person with trilingual instructor Julienne Lambre. Whether you are just starting out your journey in French or you have some experience but want to learn more, from phrases for tourists to advanced conversation, we have a class designed just for you! Starting end of Sep., beginning of Oct. & beginning of Nov., 6-7:30 p.m. Cost varies according to number of sessions: $115-165. Location: Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg. Info: Access CVU, 802-482-7194, access@ cvsdvt.org, accesscvu.arux. app.

martial arts 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. Dates: Starts Oct. 7, ongoing on Wed. mornings, 9-10 a.m. Registration will remain open until Oct. 28. Cost: $65/mo. Location: Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church (in the gym), 305 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Info: Patrick Cavanaugh, 802490-6405, patricklrtcc@gmail. com, longrivertaichinewengland. com.

music TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month, starting the weeks of Sep. 15, Oct. 22, Nov. 24 and Jan. 5. 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/person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G, Burlington. Info: Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko. org.

Sat. only or the full two-day retreat. Come on your own or with a partner, friend or family member. Dates: Oct. 24-25, 2-6 p.m. both days. Early registration per-person cost through Sep. 20: day 1, $150; full weekend, $275. Regular registration: day 1, $175; full weekend, $325. Location: Yellow Farmhouse Inn, 550 Old County Rd., Waitsfield. Info: Heather Parker, 802-522-0069, heather@embodimentpsycho therapy.org, embodimentpsycho therapy.org/group-events-1.

wellness EMBODIED RELATING — SOMATIC RELATIONAL RETREAT: What becomes possible when you feel more present, connected and fully yourself in relationship? An experiential somatic retreat for anyone longing for deeper, more authentic connection. Explore embodiment, relational practice, nervous system awareness and attachment. Attend

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

= TICKETED CLASS

Humane Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Earl AGE/SEX: 1-year-old neutered male ARRIVAL DATE: July 27, 2026 SUMMARY: Earl is a gorgeous brindle guy with a big heart, wagging tail and joyful, ready-for-anything attitude! This playful, people-oriented pup loves to stay active. Whether it’s a game of tug, chasing toys or heading out for a long walk, Earl is happiest when he’s on the move. After a fun adventure, he’s happy to settle in and relax by your side or soak up some snuggles. Earl would thrive with an active adopter who can continue his training with consistency and positive reinforcement. If you’re looking for a loyal adventure buddy, Earl can’t wait to meet you! DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Earl is seeking a home where he can be

Services »

the only pet. He has no known history with kids, but we think he’d do best in a home without young kids due to his size and energy level. He may do well with teenagers.

Musicians & Artists »

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Society of Chittenden County

DID YOU KNOW? A “sniffari” walk is a great way for dogs to burn off excess energy! Dogs enjoy the freedom of getting to explore at their own pace and sniff all the wonderful smells they encounter. It requires a lot of brainpower, which makes this activity a great option for mental exercise, too.

Sponsored by:

Jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS. SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 143 classifieds@sevendaysvt.com

Buy y & Sell e

FREE STUFF ESTEY PUMP ORGAN Estey pump organ produced in early 1900s in Brattleboro, Vt. Bellows have been repaired. Stops & keys need TLC. Info, 802-864-6119, psmith@ myfairpoint.net. ANTIQUE PAPER-LINED WOODEN BARRELS 2 antique paper-lined wooden barrels w/ metal rings. Info, 802-864-6119, psmith@ myfairpoint.net.

FURNITURE CLOTHING HAMPER White solid-wood clothes hamper w/ custom flat black stone top. Mint condition, never used. $200 value, selling half price/OBO. Possible accent table! Contact 802-758-7606.

VICTORIAN BENCH Sturdy, solid cherrywood Victorian bench. Brown leather w/ bottom shelf. From Ashley Furniture. $375 value, selling half price. Mint. Contact 802-578-7606. BEAUTIFUL CONTEMPORARY COFFEE TABLE Contemporary small cherrywood coffee table. Custom gray-tint glass top. $175 value, mint condition. Selling at half price, firm. Info, 802-758-7606. BEAUTIFUL TABLE LAMPS Never-used table lamps, wood shade, quartz base. $500 value. Mint condition. $200. Info, 802-758-7606. 2 END TABLES & SOFA TABLE & MATCHING LAMP Solid-oak wood bottom shelf w/ green verde marble top. Mint condition. $900 value; half price/OBO. Matching mint-condition lamp, wood shade, green verde marble base. $375 from Gift Barn. Half price/OBO. Info, 802-758-7606.

CLASSIFIEDS KEY appt. appointment apt. apartment BA bathroom BR bedroom DR dining room DW dishwasher HDWD hardwood HW hot water LR living room NS no smoking OBO or best offer refs. references sec. dep. security deposit W/D washer & dryer EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, disability, presence of minor children in the family, receipt of public assistance, citizenship, immigration status, or status as a victim or survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertis-

6-FOOT CHRISTMAS TREE New in box, never used, 6 foot, pre-lit w/ twinkling LED lights. By Best Choice Products, paid $125. Selling for half price. Info, 802-758-7606.

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES MR. BRUNELLE’S GARAGE SALE Selling art & craft supplies, furniture, dishes, tools, electronic items, kitchen items, toys & games, & medical equipment. Sat. & Sun., Sep. 26 & 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine. 135 Raceway Rd., Jericho. MAN CAVE SALE CLEANOUT This year’s Man Cave Sale is a blowout. I have way too much inventory from finds around the country this year. 150+/- firearms (as a licensed FFL, all state & federal laws will be followed). For those who don’t know, I’m a licensed gunsmith w/ no retail space or hours. So my two opportunities to open up to the public is the March Gun Show & my fall sale. Markdowns as much as $250 or more, a true liquidation sale to make space in the shop. Tubbs snowshoes, fishing poles, tackle, boxes, camping stoves, hunting clothes, ammo, scopes, shooting accessories, tools, trapping gear — the list goes on. Still digging; may have some high-end outdoor art if I can get to it & more collectibles. Sat., Sep. 26, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., & Sun. Sep. 27, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Bennett Rd. in Monkton. Call Greg for more information: 802-777-7798. ANGEL OUTFITTERS RUMMAGE SALE 216 S. Main St., Hardwick. Oct. 1, 3, 6, 8 & 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m; Oct. 2 & 9, noon-7 p.m. Winter & summer clothing, mostly all just 50 cents!

ing for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels they have encountered discrimination should contact: HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 1-800-669-9777 hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 12 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 800-416-2010 human.rights@vermont.gov

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Buy & Sell, Community, Musicians & Artists, Vehicles 1-week combo: $12 All print combos include 2-week combo: $22 30 days free online! 4-week combo: $42

HOME & GARDEN BRAND-NEW PATIO UMBRELLAS Tilt/crank operation, light gray, never used. Comes w/ solid black iron umbrella stand. $350 value, selling at half price/OBO. Info, 802-758-7606.

of other uses. Nice BA & large, oversized closet room; cathedral ceiling & beautiful wood-finished floor; heated mudroom w/ nice window & doors. $1,600/mo. lease. (1-year or multiyear lease avail.) Electricity & heat incl. For more information, call or text 802-2490414 or email info@ campmeade.today.

HOUSEMATES Community C ommunity mmuni y

ANNOUNCEMENTS SLAVIC LIFE The Slavic Life Movement is an organization dedicated to the preservation & evolution of Slavic culture.

VOLUNTEERS WE’RE BUILDING THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR WOLCOTT Can you help? Info, wolcottcommunitytrust. org.

Musicians M cians & Ar Artists ts

MUSICIANS & BANDS SINGER NEEDED Rock band looking for singer. Ready to play out. We have jam space/ recording, all equipment. Contact 802-793-4940.

Rentals R e als & R al Est Real Estate Esta

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS GORGEOUS MIDDLESEX STUDIO FOR LEASE Conveniently located just off Interstate 89. 647 sq.ft. of attractive, versatile space currently used as a yoga studio but suitable for a variety

NEK HOMESHARE Wanted: someone interested in spending a winter in Vermont’s rural Upper Kingdom, sharing a house w/ an off-grid solar system, heated primarily w/ wood, connected to a spotty internet hookup, & in the company of an old blue heeler & a healthylooking, 81-year-old writer who is living w/ an energy-draining, slow-moving, incurable blood cancer. Requirements incl. a reliable rig w/ good tires, an easygoing personality & a commitment to stay the winter, through Mar. Rent affordable & negotiable; options incl. renting the entire house at winter’s end w/ an option to buy. Contact Paul at 802-467-8338 or paul@bartonchronicle. com. Also can be reached at PO Box 397, Island Pond, VT 05846. LIVE CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN BTV Share an apt. walkable to downtown Burlington w/ individual in their 30s w/ health challenges who enjoys waterfront walks & yoga. Seeking LGBTQaffirming housemate for assistance w/ household chores, shopping, meal prep twice/week & transportation in exchange for reduced rent of $300/mo. Must have a vehicle. No pets. Scent-free products only. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homeshare vermont.org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO. YAHTZEE & THE SMELL OF WARM BAKED GOODS S. Burlington: Woman in her 80s who enjoys baking, game shows & Yahtzee offers a furnished BR/private BA in her apt. $250/mo. (+ cost of internet if adding that service), in addition to sharing some meal prep & conversation. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

Rentals & Real Estate 1-week combo: $25 2-week combo: $45 4-week combo: $85

Services 1-week combo: $15 2-week combo: $25 4-week combo: $45

NEED A We’ve CAR? Got You!

Services rv es

HEALTH & WELLNESS CLINICAL SUPERVISION & SUPERVISED BILLING Immediate statewide openings for pre-licensed professionals or practices seeking operational backing. Tailored guidance from an experienced Burlington-based provider. Call/text 802-777-5499 today to discuss your clinical track or visit rachelkling. com. PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR COUPLES & INDIVIDUALS Immediate openings for individuals & couples. Skip the wait list. Secure statewide telehealth or in-person in Burlington. Blue Cross Blue Shield & Medicaid accepted for individuals. Couples self-pay only $200. Take the 1st step today. Call or text 802-777-5499 or visit rachelkling.com.

Join us every other Saturday morning @9AM for our ***PUBLIC AUTO AUCTION*** featuring a wide selection of: Passenger Cars SUVs Pickup Trucks Construction Vehicles And More! BID ONLINE OR IN PERSON! 298 James Brown Drive Williston, VT ***Next Auctions: Saturday, Sept. 26 & Oct. 10 Doors Open 7:30AM

THCAuction.com

CARS & TRUCKS

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Vehicles

CADILLAC SRX-4 CROSSOVER 3.6L, black exterior, black leather interior. Premium

Legal Notices STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-03600 In re ESTATE of Samuel Faris NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Samuel Faris, late of Williston, Vermont. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: September 11, 2026 Signature of Fiduciary: / Daniel Faris & Matthew Faris / Executor/Administrator: Daniel Faris & Matthew Faris

package. Michelin tires. Mint condition, 125K 9/17/26 2:52 PM highway miles. Serviced at Handy’s Cadillac. $14,995/OBO. Info, 802-578-7606.

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121. Mailing Address: 145 Rita Road Williston, Vermont 05495 Phone Number: 802-578-6606 Email: dpfaris@gmail.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: September 23,2026 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05402 PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF VERMONT The Vermont General Assembly is proposing voters amend the Constitution of the State of Vermont as follows: 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.

LEGALS »

Show and tell. Sudoku View and post up to

Calcoku SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS »

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, fill the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

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BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one 2 to6nine.7 The3same8 numbers 9 5 cannot be repeated in a row or column.

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Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

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.

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SUDOKU

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Post & browse ads Complete the following puzzle by using the at your convenience. 6 photos per ad online.

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See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

say you saw it in

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

7/31/24 4:41 PM

Legal Notices 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.

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CALEDONIA UNIT DOCKET NO.:26-PR-02351

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 26-PR-01476

In re ESTATE of Gustavo Alberto Teran

IN RE: ESTATE OF JOYCE L. FORTIN

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Gustavo Alberto Teran, late of Hardwick, Vermont.

To the creditors of Joyce L. Fortin, late of Milton, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

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 this publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 9/15/2026 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Diana Guajardo Executor/Administrator: Diana Guajardo Mailing Address: Stackpole & French Law Offices PO Box 819, Stowe, VT 05672 Phone Number: 802-253-7339 Email: marlene@stackpolefrench.com

Dated: September 11, 2026 s/Dwayne Rivers, Co-Administrator s/Kay Marie Denno, Co-Administrator c/o Harry C. Parker, Esq. Parker Law, PLLC 38 Community Lane, Suite 4 South Hero, VT 05486 802-372-6904 harry@parkerlawvt.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 09/23/2026 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Caledonia Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 1126 Main St., Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 FRANKLIN NORTHEAST SUPERVISORY UNION INVITES ALL INTERESTED, QUALIFIED PERSONS OR FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING REQUIRED SERVICES TO SUBMIT BIDS FOR THE DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES. Proposals will be due October 12, 2026, with a bidder walkthrough on October 5, 2025. For a copy of the request, please contact: Vernon Boomhover at vernon.boomhover@fnesu.org or 802-933-1357.

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 09/23/2026 Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0923-6 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C0923-6 from City of South Burlington, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT 05403 and City of South Burlington, 180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403 was received on September 4, 2026 and deemed complete on September 10, 2026. The project is generally described as replacing an existing grass field with a new multi-use synthetic turf field, improving the drainage around other existing fields, replacing and expanding an existing gravel parking lot with a new paved parking lot, and

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5 1 4 3 8 2 60x 7 9 6 9 6 1 2Difficulty 4 - Medium 5 8 3 7 4 7 8 1 5 9 6 2 3 7+ 9+

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

constructing a 3,000 square foot storage building for park staff’s use. The project is located at Veterans Memorial Park, 600 Swift Street in South Burlington, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont. gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0923-6.” No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before October 7, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) (E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/ documents/party-status-petition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont. gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing. For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below. Dated this September 15, 2026. By: /s/ Stephanie Monaghan Stephanie Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY PROPOSED FLOOD HAZARD DETERMINATIONS FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY, VERMONT (ALL JURISDICTIONS) The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, reflecting proposed flood hazard determinations within Chittenden County, Vermont (All Jurisdictions). These flood hazard determinations may include the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway. Technical information or comments are solicited on the proposed flood hazard determinations shown on the preliminary FIRM and/ or FIS report for Chittenden County, Vermont (All Jurisdictions). These flood hazard determinations are the basis for the floodplain management measures that your community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. However, before these determinations are effective for floodplain management purposes, you will be provided an opportunity to appeal the proposed information. For information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, as well as a complete listing of the communities affected and the locations where copies of the FIRM are available for review, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www.floodmaps.fema. gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627). NORTHFIELD MUTUAL HOLDING COMPANY NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A Special Meeting of the Corporators of the Northfield Mutual Holding Company will be held October 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Vermont National Country Club, 1227 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT. The matters to be considered include the election of Corporators. Please call (802) 871-4492 for information.

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

NOTICE OF SELF-STORAGE LIEN SALE VITAL SELF STORAGE - FAIRFAX 64 HARVEST ROAD FAIRFAX, VT 05454 Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self-storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid. This sale is being held to collect unpaid storage unit occupancy fees, charges, and expenses of the sale. The entire contents of each self-storage unit listed below will be sold, with the proceeds to be distributed to Vital Self Storage for all accrued occupancy fees (rent charges), late payment fees, sale expenses, and all other expenses in relation to the unit and its sale. Contents of each unit may be viewed on 10/7/2026, commencing at 9:00AM. Sealed bids are to be submitted on the entire contents of each self- storage unit. Bids will be opened one half hour after the last unit has been viewed on 10/7/2026. The highest bidder on the storage unit must remove the entire contents of the unit within 48 hours after notification of their successful bid. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Vital Self Storage reserves the right to accept or reject bids. The contents of the following tenant’s self-storage units will be included in this sale: Terry Wells - 309 SECTION 8 WAITLIST OPEN The Winooski Housing Authority intends to open our application waitlist for Housing Choice Voucher Applications on October 1, 2026. RFP FOR SKATING FACILITY BRINE PIPE REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT Essex Westford School District is seeking bid proposals for repairing/replacing a 10-12’ section of piping within our salt water brine supply and return lines. All proposals shall be emailed to Krista Luchini, kluchini@ewsd.org, or delivered to our office by 3pm on Friday, October 2nd, 2026. Bids will be reviewed the following week and vendors will be notified by Friday, October 9th, 2026.

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Address of Probate Court: 175 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401 AUCTION – MOBILE HOME Sale Date & Location: Wednesday, 9/30/26 at 11:00 a.m. – Fernwood Manor Mobile Home Park, Lot #30A, 171 East Street in Bolton, VT. For more info. call (802) 860-9536. 1982 Oxford, Min. bid $7,965.29 Must be moved 5 days after sale. Auctioneer: Uriah Wallace – Lic. #057-0002460 COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on October 14, 2026, at 7:00pm to hear the following requests under the Development Regulations. Meeting is open to the public and will be held at 781 Blakely Road. a) FP-27-04 DAVID & CLAUDIA PRATT: Final Plat Application for a major Planned Unit Development in the GD1 District. Application includes 1) Dissolution of property line between 541 Main Street and 567 Main Street; 2) Retention of Dwelling units at 541 and 567 Main Street and Commercial Unit at 531 Main Street; and 3) Construction of three duplex dwelling units (6 total dwellings) accessed via a new private road. Development to be served by a new in-ground wastewater system, municipal water connections, and on-site stormwater treatment. Subject properties are located at 541, 567, and 587 Main Street, Accounts #25-003003-0000000, #25-004003-0000000, and #25-005003-0000000. b) CU-27-01 FIREHOUSE 282 LLC & JOSEPH POULIMA: Conditional Use Application to amend a previous Site Plan and Conditional Use approval. Amendment includes a change of use from Automotive Accessory Sales with Installation (Use 2.520) to Automotive Service & Repair without Bodywork (Use 3.311). Property is located in the GD2 District and HPD Overlay. No construction is proposed at this time. Subject property is located at 282 Ethan Allen Avenue, Account #20-004021-0000000. September 23, 2026

Interested vendors may request a walkthrough by emailing Krista Luchini, kluchini@ewsd.org.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:26-PR-05258

For additional information about the project and the bid process, please refer to the below RFP link.

In re ESTATE of David Ernst Dauer

https://www.ewsd.org/page/purchasing-bids STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-05824 In re ESTATE of Claire Lindberg NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Claire Lindberg, late of Essex, Vermont. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 9/16/2026 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ JC & EL Executor/Administrator: Jennifer Clarke & Eric Lindberg Mailing Address: Wick & Maddocks, 1 Grove Street, Essex Jct, VT 05452 Phone Number: 917-282-5256 Email: jeff@wickandmaddocks.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 9/23/2026 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court

NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: DAVID ERNST DAUER, late of BURLINGTON, VERMONT. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 09/17/2026 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Norman C. Smith Executor/Administrator: Norman C. Smith Mailing Address: P.O. Box 24, Essex Junction, VT 05453 Phone Number: 802-288-9088 Email: norman@normansmithlaw.com Name of Publication: SEVEN DAYS Publication Date: SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 Name of Probate Court: CHITTENDEN PROBATE COURT Address of Probate Court: 175 MAIN STREET, BURLINGTON, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION WASHINGTON UNIT DOCKET NO.:26-PR-03867 In re ESTATE of Joyce D. Liberman NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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To the creditors of: Joyce D. Liberman, late of Berlin, Vermont I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 9/3/26 Executor: Laura Ibey Signed: Claudia I. Pringles, Esq., representing Laura Ibey, Executor 25 Court St Montpelier, VT 05602 802-223-0600 cpringles@pringleslaw.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 9/23/2026 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Washington Unit (Probate Div.) Address of Probate Court: 65 State St., Montpelier, VT 05602 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:26-PR-00646 In re ESTATE of Leona Wamsley NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Leona Wamsley, late of Burlington, Vermont. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 9/21/2026 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Janice Rollins Executor/Administrator: Janice Rollins Mailing Address: c/o MSK Attorneys, PO Box 4485, Burlington, VT 05406-4485 Phone Number: 802-861-7000 Email: jmazzuchi@mskvt.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 09/23/2026 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:26-PR-04935 In re ESTATE of Curtis Lorance NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Curtis Lorance, late of Hinesburg. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 9/21/2026 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Alycia Zink Executor/Administrator: Alycia Zink Mailing Address: 446 Old Country Road 100-430, Pacifica, CA 94044 Phone Number: (808) 354-4016 Email: alyciazink@gmail.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: September 23, 2026 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court

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Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 NOTICE OF LIEN SALE IS HEREBY GIVEN BY CLASS CENTRE MINI-STORAGE OF MILTON, VT. This sale will take place on September 26, 2026 at Noon. Units to be sold are: # 205-Occupant Dottie Martin #309- Occupant Eric MacKenzie/Cindy Jennings Sale shall be by bid and will go to highest bidder. Unit sold as one complete sale. CCMS reserves the right to reject any bid that is not reasonable. TOWN OF JERICHO BID ANNOUNCEMENT RE: JERICHO SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL The Town of Jericho is seeking sealed bids for Sidewalk Snow Removal Services for a two-year contract starting November 2, 2026, through March 31, 2027, and November 1, 2027, through March 31, 2028 (a 2-year bid- for the winter season (maps and scope of work are posted on our website https:// www.jerichovt.gov/314/RFPs-and-Contract-Bids). All bids must be received by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 9th, 2026, in the Jericho Town Administrator’s office. Bids may be mailed to Town of Jericho, Attn: Sidewalk Snow Removal, PO Box 39, Jericho, VT 05465. All bids must be sealed. Bids must meet the requirements of the Jericho Sidewalk Snow Removal Services Scope of Work and include a description of all equipment the bidder has available for clearing and sanding/salting. All bids will be opened on Friday, October 9th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. We will notify all parties of the results. We will then review bids and recommend the lowest responsive bidder to the Jericho Selectboard for approval. Please direct any questions to Paula Hollstein, Assistant Town Administrator, at 899-9970 ext. 3 or email phollstein@jerichovt.gov. TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 113, Section 105-109 of the Colchester Charter, and Section 1-4 of the Colchester Code of Ordinances, the Colchester Selectboard will hold a public hearing on October 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM for public comment on amendments to Chapter 10: Sewers. A summary of the proposed amendments to Chapter 10 are as follows: inclusion of new requirements for grease, oil, and sand interceptors, clarification of the User Charge System’s (UCS) relationship to the Ordinance, inclusion of the Malletts Bay Sewer Area map, and clarification of various definitions in the Ordinance. The hearings are currently scheduled to take place at the Town of Colchester Town Offices, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, Vermont, in the Outer Bay Conference Room on the third floor. Alternatively, you can email comments to TownManager@ colchestervt.gov with “Citizens to be Heard – Sewer Ordinance” in the subject and include your name. As with in-person Citizens to be Heard, we ask that you SHARE YOUR ADDRESS. The email will be shared with the entire Selectboard prior to the meeting and included in the information packet at the next meeting. You may watch the Selectboard meeting on live stream TV: http://lcatv.org/live-stream-2. A complete set of the proposed changes to Chapter 10 and a memo explaining the purpose are available here: https://clerkshq.com/ Colchester-vt?docId=AGENDA2&path=Colch_ CityCouncil%2CColchester_BOS_ Agendas%2CAGENDA2%2C Copies of the proposed ordinance updates are available at the Town Clerk’s office at 781 Blakely Rd. If you have questions regarding these amendments, contact the Department of Public Works at (802)264-5620. For publication no later than September 28, 2026 (15 days prior to Public Hearing). SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

80 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: PRINT DEADLINE: FOR RATES & INFO:

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) GILLIAN COMITO, 802-341-3060 GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM SEE THE HEART OF THE MATTER Echocardiographer at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH)

Senior Financial analySt aSSociate Director oF annual GivinG

Pet Caregivers

Visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu & select “View Current Openings”

We have openings for full and part-time Pet Caregivers.

SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.

Happy Tails Pet Resort and Spa is an upscale pet daycare and boarding facility 2h-SUNYPlattsburgh072926.indd 1 in S. Burlington, VT. We are committed to providing a safe, clean and fun environment for our employees and the pets in our care.

9/18/26 3:30 PM

Qualifications: RDCS or RCS certification required • BLS required • Minimum of one (1) year of echocardiography experience required Why NVRH? Excellent benefits • Competitive pay • Student loan repayment Tuition reimbursement • Generous PTO • 401(k) match

Email your resume to: CustomerService@ HappyTailsVermont.com

Apply today: nvrh.org/careers

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2h-CVCOA092326 1

Downtown Advocacy Manager

HIRING MULTIPLE POSITIONS!

LCC is seeking a Downtown Advocacy Manager for the Downtown Business Alliance. The new role will lead our business advocacy and engagement efforts within the City of Burlington. The Manager will serve as the Chamber’s primary voice for local commerce, ensuring that the interests of Burlington’s business community are represented at the municipal and state levels. This position is crucial for driving, developing, and protecting the economic vitality of the city. To learn more and apply, visit https://lccvermont.org/job-board/ The Lake Champlain Chamber is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes diversity in the workplace. We strongly encourage all qualified persons to apply.

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Help patients see the full picture of their heart health while building a rewarding career in the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. NVRH is seeking an Echocardiographer to join our Diagnostic Imaging team. Perform diagnostic cardiac ultrasound studies, collaborate with physicians and care teams, and make a meaningful impact on patient care every day.

At Lund, we believe in building a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to make a difference every day. We believe that when our staff thrives, our children and families thrive. Whether your passions and professional experiences lie in direct service work or behind-the-scenes operations, and whether you’re looking for full-time work, part-time, or substitute positions, there’s a place here for you to bring your talents, creativity, and heart to the work we do serving Vermont children and families. • Early Childhood Teacher – Associate Level Full-time, the Hourly Rate is $25/hr • Early Childhood Teacher – Assistant Level Full-time, the Hourly Rate is $22/hr • Substance Use Case Manager – Multiple Locations Full-time, the Hourly Rate is $25/hr • Administrative Assistant Full-time, the Hourly Rate is $21/hr • Food Services Specialist Part-time, the Hourly Rate is $22/hr • Licensed Nurse (LPN/RN) Full-time, the Salary Range is $65,000 - $70,000 For full job postings and to apply, go to: lundvt.org/about-lund/employment.

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7/24/26 11:10 AM

The Town of Westford is seeking a full-time

Road Crew Member Benefits include: - A 4-day work week - Annual clothing allowance - Generous overtime policy - Frequently updated equipment - 100% employer-paid single-person health, dental and vision insurance - A retirement plan with an employer contribution match - Must pass pre-employment physical exam and drug test. For consideration, please submit resume, references, and employment application to: Town of Westford, Attn: Tommy O’Connor, 1713 VT Route 128, Westford, VT 05494. For more information, contact Tommy O’Connor (Town Administrator) at 802-878-4587 or townadmin@westfordvt.us. Position open until filled. Westford is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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8/20/26 11:22 AM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Housing Advocate

Executive Director

Want to do work that matters?

Are you passionate about supporting families in our community? Are you ready to lead ACPCC into its next era while preserving our outstanding legacy of support for parents and children in Addison County? If so, we’d like to hear from you!

Mosaic Vermont is seeking a full time Housing Advocate to join our team. You'll walk alongside survivors of sexual harm and intimate partner violence as they navigate challenges and move toward greater safety & stability. This work will include:

The Executive Director is ACPCC’s chief executive, reporting to the Board of Directors and holding clear authority and accountability for the organization’s mission, strategic direction, financial sustainability, and program excellence. The E.D. works closely with program leads day to day and in partnership with the Board, staff, families, and community and state partners. Salary: $82,000 - $105,000. Apply by submitting your resume and cover letter at tinyurl.com/ ACPCCExecDir or via email to Recruiting@HRHappens.com. E.O.E.

• Crisis intervention and

81 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & GRANTS VTAEYC’S Director of Finance & Grants oversees financial operations and grant management functions, ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective fiscal processes, and compliance with federal and state grant requirements. This position manages a $9M budget, maintains strong financial systems, supports complex grant tracking and reporting, and ensures strong coordination between finance and grant activities. As a member of the Leadership Team, this role provides strategic financial leadership and guidance to support organizational decision-making and oversees a growing team of grants and finance professionals. 90% flexible remote work with occasional in-state travel. Make an impact in the early childhood education field and join a collaborative and entrepreneurial team! Apply: ecejobs.org/jobs/17/182067

safety planning

• Connecting people to

resources they need to move forward

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• Helping people access safe

and stable housing

• Offering support for healing

Find the full position description and application instructions at mosaic-vt. org/about/job-openings.

The Legislature’s support offices are seeking seasonal staff for the 2027 Legislative Session.

Are you looking for an interesting, challenging, and rewarding place to work? You’ll join a non-partisan and highly professional, collegial team that takes pride in and has a genuine enthusiasm for the mission of the state legislature. These full-time, seasonal positions are based in Montpelier, VT, running from November/December 2026 through May 2027. To apply, please go to: ‘Career Opportunities’ at legislature. vermont.gov.

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Development & Communications Director The Janet S. Munt Family Room is seeking a Development & Communications Director who loves connecting people to purpose, building genuine relationships, and telling stories that inspire people to engage. This person will lead our fundraising and public-facing communications, thoughtfully sharing The Family Room’s work while honoring the dignity, privacy, and voices of the families we serve. As a member of our Leadership Team, the Director will build strong relationships with donors, foundations, businesses, volunteers, and community partners through donor stewardship, grants, fundraising events and campaigns, newsletters, our Impact Report, website, and social media. We’re looking for an experienced fundraiser and communicator who is a strong writer, creative thinker, relationship builder, and collaborative colleague—and who believes deeply in the power of connection and belonging. This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary of $65,000– $75,000, depending on experience. Benefits include health insurance or HRA, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, holidays, and wellness benefits. To Apply: Please send a personalized cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Executive Director Jackie Reno at careers@thefamilyroomvt.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Learn more and view the full job description on our website: thefamilyroomvt.org. The Family Room is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.

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9/22/26 1:59 PM

BAKER/PASTRY CHEF Minifactory (restaurant, bakery & grocery) homes Good Food Award Winning V Smiley Preserves (jam company) in downtown Bristol, Vermont. This hybrid cafe, bakery, grocery and production model hums with daily activity. The kitchen is non-traditional and collaborative. We believe that kitchen work is exciting, meaningful, creative and a great fit for all kinds of folks. We’re hiring a skilled, creative baker/pastry chef to helm the baking program at Minifactory. Our location has homed a bakery for almost 5 decades and the community's appreciation for pastry and baking is immense. Our ideal candidate works independently but understands themselves to be a part of the V Smiley Preserves / Minifactory organization. You are the morning time lead in the space, setting the tone in the kitchen, greeting/checking in deliveries, keeping counterfolks informed about menu, etc. You'll step into a wellorganized system built by a veteran pastry chef who is moving on after four years at Minifactory. Compensation: Wages are based off an hourly wage + tips. Pay range is $58,000-70,000/yr with a signing bonus of $2,000 (via 3 and 6 month interval).

Apply at vsmileypreserves.com/jobs

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Office Manager / Legal Assistant

Fulfillment Technician

Client Services & Account Manager

Full Time Tata Harper Skincare is seeking passionate, driven individuals to join our team at our our Vermont Fulfillment Facility in Shelburne, VT. As a leader in 100% natural, highperformance skincare, we’re committed to sustainability, innovation, and excellence. Join a growing brand that’s transforming beauty naturally. Temporary position until the end of June 2027 Qualifications: Process driven, attention to detail, able to lift 25lbs Job Summary: The prospective candidate will be responsible for picking and packing orders. Other responsibilities may include but are not limited to cycle counting inventory, data entry, and other administrative tasks. Compensation: $20.00 per hour Benefits: 401(k), Life insurance, Medical, Dental & Vision insurance - Gratis product allowance - Paid time off and Holidays

Credit Analyst

Key Responsibilities: • Serve as each account’s liaison and long-term trusted resource. • Create and implement EAP promotional programming. • Create and present workshops tailored to each audience.

Salary range: $47,000-$90,000 Location: VEDA has offices in Montpelier, Middlebury, and Burlington. Position expected to be in-office a minimum of 3 days/week. Requirements include but are not limited to: • Previous experience as a credit analyst or related experience. • Knowledge of and ability to analyze balance sheets, income statements, cash flow, and collateral adequacy. • Knowledge/ability to analyze business & marketplace strengths & weaknesses. • Strong written, verbal, and customer service skills. • Accuracy and attention to detail. • Computer literacy and ability to learn financial database software. • Bachelor’s degree. • Travel within the State of Vermont. • Knowledge of the agricultural sector is preferred but not required. VEDA offers competitive salaries and excellent health and retirement benefit packages. Other perks include a flexible work environment, generous tuition reimbursement, and professional development and networking opportunities. VEDA is an E.O.E. We welcome job applications from all qualified candidates. To apply, send applications to: trichardson@veda.org.

Competitive salary (starting range of $23-$26 per hour) and comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, and 401(k). The ideal candidate has excellent computer, organizational and interpersonal skills. Interested persons please email cover letter & resume to Margie Cain at mcain@msvtlaw.com.

• Contribute to a collaborative team through clear communication and shared systems.

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VEDA is looking for a motivated individual to be our next Credit Analyst. Based on prior experience, this position may be hired at the Credit Analyst or Senior Credit Analyst level. This position supports loan officers with financial and business analysis for new loan and servicing requests. Duties include preparing and analyzing financial spreadsheets, analyzing business and marketplace strengths and weaknesses, drafting loan credit memos to aide management and/or the Board of Directors in making loan approval decisions.

Office Manager responsibilities include billing, accounts receivable, payroll, banking, coordination with the Firm’s bookkeeper on Accounts Payable, and property management issues pertaining to Firm properties. Legal assistant responsibilities include supporting the Firm’s other legal assistant and paralegals in producing legal filings and correspondence, proofing documents, reception, and general office assistance.

• Manage priorities with strong organization and judgment.

You build trust quickly, read people well, and bring a high sense of ownership. Mostly remote; $28–34/ hour, 32-38 hours/week with full benefits. Submit cover letter and resume to wellbeing@investeap.org by 9/30/2026.

Send resume to amy@ap.tataharper.com

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At Invest EAP/Centers for Wellbeing, strong client relationships are at the heart of our mission. This role manages a large account portfolio, helping each organization make the most of their EAP.

Monaghan Safar PLLC, a Burlington law firm, has an immediate opening for a full-time office manager/legal assistant in an exciting and welcoming environment.

9/18/26 10:48 AM

Youth Shelter Coordinator, St Albans

Finance Director The Finance Director steers the financial engine behind Vermont Housing and Conservation Board’s statewide affordable housing and conservation work. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and serving as their strategic backup, you’ll direct daily fiscal operations, supervise and mentor the finance team, and ensure the integrity of multi-fund revenue streams, including major federal awards. You’ll lead the annual audit cycle, shape organizational budgeting and financial modeling, oversee a substantial loan portfolio, and liaise with banking partners and state financial systems. Requires CPA or equivalent and deep knowledge of nonprofit or governmental fund accounting, GAAP, and federal Uniform Administrative Guidance, with a track record of clean audits and confident team leadership. Based in Montpelier with some remote flexibility. Applications due October 19, 2026.

Farm & Forest Viability Program Coordinator

Building Maintenance & Custodian Youth Coaches:

Burlington & St Albans Drop-In Center & Supported Housing, full & part-time shifts available

Young Adult Peer Navigator Respite Staff

The Farm and Forest Viability Program Coordinator channels funding and support to farm, food, and forest businesses that sustain Vermont’s communities and landscapes. You’ll manage grants and contracts from application through final report, reconcile budgets and payments, and keep project files organized. You’ll gather participant feedback, help evaluate program impact, draft grant proposals, and make systems friendlier for the people who use them. You’ll also connect with statewide networks like Farm to Plate, visit businesses in the field, and help weave equity into every stage of grant-making. This role requires grant management experience, excellent writing, and strong attention to detail. Experience with working lands enterprises, data analysis, or CRM tools preferred. Based in Montpelier with some remote flexibility. Applications due October 12, 2026.

Send resume and cover letter to jobs@vhcb.org. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Scan QR code to apply.

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VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. To learn more, visit vhcb.org/careers

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9/22/26 2:13 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

83 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AFT Vermont is the fastest growing, democratic, organizing labor union in Vermont, with majority women membership and leadership. We organize to build power to win better wages, respect, and improvements at work and in the community. The Operations Director will work with the AFT Vermont Board and Management Team to:

Now N No ow H ow Hi Hiring iri ir rin ing ng Caregivers C Ca are ar reg egi giv ive ver ers rs Make a Difference. Build a Career Around Caring. Serving Chittenden, Franklin, Addison & Grand Isle Counties Earn an Average of $25+/hour Full-time + Part-time Available Flexible Schedule + Weekly Pay

Ready R Re ady d to Join Our Te dy T Team? am? Scan to Apply or Call/Text

802-383-6333

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• Manage HR functions, including hiring, onboarding, enhancing staff support systems, and benefits administration. • Execute day-to-day financial operations, including invoicing, budgeting, tracking, and annual financial reporting. • Manage tech platforms, including training and supporting staff and members, regularly assessing systems and providing updates as needed. • Assist in creating and implementing staff, member and board training and education. The salary range is $76,000-$90,000 a year depending on experience. Benefits include 100% employer paid health and dental insurance and 30 days of CTO accrued in the first year. For more information visit: aftvermont.org/join-our-team.

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CONTROLLER

Building Bright Futures (BBF) seeks a Controller to lead our financial operations and ensure accurate reporting, strong internal controls, and grant compliance across the organization. This full-time (1.0 FTE) position is supervised by the Executive Director and works closely with the Business Manager and Senior Development Manager to support organizational sustainability and growth. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Salary range: $87,000 - $100,000 annually (full-time), with starting salary dependent on experience. A part-time role will be considered as is feasible. Benefits include generous paid time off (including Fridays off from June through August), health care insurance, dental and vision insurance, retirement, and a monthly remote work stipend.

• 3–5 years of progressive HR experience, preferably in a small or midsized organization. • Working knowledge of federal and Vermont employment practices and requirements.

Desired Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree or five years of relevant professional experience in accounting or finance; CPA licensure strongly preferred • A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting

• Oversee monthly and annual financial reporting, including statements of financial position, activities, cash flows, and functional expenses

• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data strategically

• Lead the annual audit and ensure timely, accurate Form 990 filing

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SUMMARY: The HR Generalist is responsible for supporting the full range of human resources functions for the organization. This position serves as a trusted resource to employees and managers and helps 9/22/26 2:08 PM ensure that HR practices are consistent, legally compliant, equitable, and aligned with the organization’s mission and culture. The HR Generalist will manage day-to-day HR operations, including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, benefits administration, personnel records, performance management, policy implementation, training, and employment compliance. This position requires strong organizational skills, sound judgment, confidentiality, and the ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain internal controls, fiscal policies, and risk management practices

NEKCV is a community-driven organization whose mission is to ensure high-speed broadband internet service is available to the most rural & underserved communities in the Northeast Kingdom and the Central Valley. Founded in 2020 as a Communications Union District, we began network construction in 2021. We’re a growing company with just over 30 employees, which means there’s lots of room for growth and learning. Here at NEKCV, we’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where all employees feel welcomed and valued.

Qualifications (Required)

• Strong proficiency in QuickBooks, Google Suite, and Microsoft Suite

• Provide oversight of restricted and unrestricted fund accounting and ensure grant compliance

HR Generalist

TO APPLY Email a cover letter, resume, and three references as one PDF labeled: lastname_ firstname_Controller to: kmobbs@buildingbrightfutures.org. Position open until filled. To learn more about the position or Building Bright Futures, please visit www.buildingbrightfutures.org.

• Experience with recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, benefits, and HR administration. • Strong written and verbal communication skills. • Excellent organizational and time-management skills. • Ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Preferred Qualifications: • SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification. • Experience working in a growing organization. • Experience in telecommunications, utilities, construction, nonprofit, or community-based organizations. • Experience with Smartsheets LOCATION, HOURS, AND COMPENSATION Working Environment and Benefits: NEKCV has offices in Danville and Brighton. Work is hybrid with some work in person and some work remote and requires sufficient internet access to support Zoom and Teams meetings. The position is full-time. Benefits are competitive, including 100% health insurance for the employee and up to 75% for the family; 30 days of combined time off; dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, and up to 3% retirement match. Salary range: $70,000 - $80,000 annually, dependent on experience. TO APPLY: Send a resume and cover letter to careers@nekcv.org

9/21/26 11:15 AM

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

84 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

ACCOUNTING & BENEFITS MANAGER

CAFE BARISTA/ COUNTER STAFF (Ft/Pt)

Conservation Manager Northern Rivers Land Trust is hiring a part-time Conservation Manager.

THE GRIND GOT YOU DOWN?

Catamount Solar is seeking an Accounting and Benefits Manager to maintain financial records and oversee employee benefits administration. Responsibilities include accounts payable and receivable, bank and inventory reconciliations, month-end reporting, payroll coordination, employee onboarding and offboarding, retirement and insurance administration, vehicle records, company event planning, bank deposits, and general office support. This position reports to the General Manager and provides financial insights to support business decisions.

To learn more visit On-site Barista/counter role northernrivers Qualified candidates should have QuickBooks Online experience, located in Essex Junction, landtrust.org knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting skills, and a flexible, VT. Day-to-day tasks will team-oriented attitude. A bachelor’s degree in accounting, include brewing coffee, Or email finance, or business administration is preferred. Pay Range is tea, and specialty drinks, northernriverslandtrust@ $60,000 - $80,000 depending on experience. maintaining cleanliness in gmail.com by 10/1/26. the work area, restocking To apply, please visit our website at www.catamountsolar.com. supplies, and ensuring a positive customer experience by delivering excellent service. The 2v-NorthernRiversLandTrust092326.indd 1 9/22/26 12:44 PM individual will also handle customer orders, process payments, and assist in promoting menu items.

Perk up!

Browse 100+ new job postings from trusted, local employers.

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WHY NOT HAVE A JOB YOU LOVE?

Apply today! Stop in, call, or email us your resume. vermontrestaurantgroup@ gmail.com.

Development & Communications Coordinator The Joint Urban Ministry Project/ JUMP manages an Outreach Center that assists thousands of Vermont households and individuals in need each year in practical, thoughtful ways. This role leads JUMP fundraising and communications initiatives to achieve annual fundraising goals while building strong relationships with faith communities, donors, and community partners. Part-time: 30 hours per week; $25 to $30/hour Benefits: Semi-flexible schedule, professional development opportunities, paid time off. For full job description & to apply: 7dvt.pub/jump2026

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8/28/26 10:56 AM

Champlain Community Services is growing, and we want you to be part of our team. Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance with up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match and so much more. And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for eight years in a row.

Therapeutic Supports Senior Manager

Employment Specialist

Provide clinical leadership, supervision, and therapeutic consultation to a strong team of Service Coordinators supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. In this role you will serve as a key team leader to develop, plan and implement comprehensive, person centered services for individuals. Compensation is $60,000 annual salary

Join our award-winning supported employment program working with individuals to develop career goals, seek and secure employment, and build partnerships with local businesses for long term employment. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, enjoy working in a collaborative environment and have the desire to make an impact on their community. Compensation is $21/hr

Service Coordinator Join our team of professionals providing case management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this role you will learn about strategies for individualized supports; build trusting, professional relationships; lead teams towards a greater goal; and continue your career in human services in a supportive & fun environment. Compensation is $24.60/hr plus on call stipend

Intake Coordinator Be the first step in someone’s journey toward meaningful support at CCS. The ideal candidate will have experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities, have strong communication, organization and customer service skills, and have a genuine interest in helping people receive the supports they need. Compensation is $24.60/hr plus on call stipend

Direct Support Professional Provide 1-to-1 supports to help individuals reach their goals in a variety of settings and make a big impact on someone’s life. This is a great position to start or continue your career in human services. Full and part time positions available. Compensation is $20/hr Join our team today and help build a community where everyone participates and belongs. Contact: ccscareers.org

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

85 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Healthy Living is Hiring! WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE COOLEST HUMANS IN TOWN! COME JOIN A TEAM THAT:

• Focuses on teamwork • Supports a collaborative environment • Puts curiosity and great ideas first • Is dedicated to providing an exceptional guest experience • Builds community relationships • Loves food and cooking • Has fun while working hard! Company Overview: Healthy Living is a locally owned, independent chain of supermarkets serving communities in Vermont and New York. Our mission is to fuel a passion for great food, health, and well-being and be the place where people gather to shop, eat, and work. We are committed to providing super healthful, innovative, and delicious food while maintaining exceptional hospitality and creating an inviting place to shop and eat. We also prioritize our relationships with local farmers and producers, and actively contribute to our community.

ASSISTANT PRODUCE DEPT. MANAGER – WILLISTON Position Overview: The Assistant Produce Manager is responsible for daily department functions specific to the department, ensures the department runs smoothly and effectively, purchases from all vendors and maintains strong vendor relationships. Teaches Produce department staff, provides direction, support, inspiration, and proficient training. Key Supervisory points of this position include hiring, training, and notifying the Produce Manager of any staffing issues that may arise. Ensures timely and accurate replenishment buying, utilizing systems, HL software, auto-order, cycle counts and data reports to effectively purchase for the needs and budgetary goals of the company. The Assistant Produce Manager also serves as the “eyes and ears” for the Produce Manager and Category Manager (CM) for the Produce Department, providing their own observations, Guest feedback and general insights for the Manager, CM and VP of Purchasing and Retail Sales.

PRODUCE ASSOCIATE – WILLISTON The Produce Associate is responsible for all produce stocking responsibilities including; keeping the department abundantly stocked, beautifully organized, and merchandised effectively. Produce Stockers cull, rotate and stock only the highest quality product on the produce floor, prep and bag items as necessary, and ensure there is proper signage for all products. Produce Stockers are also responsible for providing knowledgeable, friendly and superior hospitality to our guests. Schedule: Full-time or Part-Time hours available. Shift hours may be scheduled between 7am-9:30pm. Weekend availability is required. Pay: $15.50 - $18.17 per hour (previous experience taken into consideration). Location: 129 Market St. Williston VT.

COOK – WILLISTON The Healthy Living Cook is talented, passionate, and ready to bring our café to the next level. The Cook position is an integral part of maintaining quality, quantity, and service of our house-made food program! Our cooks maintain organized, clean, and sanitized work areas and equipment while preparing items for our deli, salad bar, "grab and go" case, and Home Meal Replacement (HMR) program.

Hours: Part-time and full-time hours available. Kitchen operating hours are 7:00AM7:30PM. Weekend availability is required. Pay: $17.00 - $19.93 per hour, plus tips. This is a tipped position. Previous experience will be taken into account. Location: 129 Market Street, Williston VT.

CASHIER - SOUTH BURLINGTON We are seeking an energetic and motivated team player to work in our busy Front End as a Cashier. The Front End at Healthy Living is the “final experience” for our guests and is built around strong, professional, and friendly hospitality. We work hard to ensure that our guests leave feeling wonderful about the time spent with us and need staff who genuinely love to go the extra mile! Location: 222 Dorset St. South Burlington VT. Pay: $15.50 - $18.17 per hour. Previous experience will be considered. Shifts: Part-time and full-time availability, weekend availability required.

RECEIVING & FACILITIES MANAGER - WILLISTON The Receiving and Facilities Manager is responsible for the efficient and smooth daily operation of physical store systems and operation of the receiving department, ensuring that receiving procedures and the store is always at its best. This includes, but is not limited to, the functionality, performance and appearance of the facility, grounds and related equipment, daily custodial operations, ensuring cleanliness and sanitation throughout the facility and conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance with cleanliness and safety guidelines. Cleanliness, safety, hospitality and efficiency are their top priorities. Flexible scheduling is a must! Schedule: Full-time hourly position, 40 hours/week including weekend availability. Location: 129 Market St., Williston VT. Rate: $28 - $37.86/hour, previous experience will be taken into consideration.

WINE & BEER LEAD - SOUTH BURLINGTON Healthy Living is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Wine and Beer Lead to join our team. We care deeply about great food and even better service and hospitality. Our Wine and Beer Department is a big part of what makes us special—filled with carefully chosen products and a team that loves sharing what they know. Our Wine & Beer Lead will support the behind-the-scenes operations that keep the department running smoothly. In this role, you’ll help ensure our shelves are well-stocked with a diverse selection of wines and beers, support beautiful merchandising, offer thoughtful pairing suggestions, and contribute to the outstanding service our guests know and love. As our Wine and Beer Lead, you’ll take charge of ordering products, working closely with vendors to get what we need, when we need it. You’ll use tools like HL software, auto-order systems, and reports to keep inventory in check and help us stay within budget. You’ll also play a key role in keeping the department clean, organized, and welcoming—and in training new team members so they feel confident and knowledgeable of department procedures. Schedule: Full-Time, weekend availability required. Pay: $20.00 - $23.44 per hour (previous experience taken into consideration). Location: 222 Dorset St. South Burlington VT.

FOR FULL DESCRIPTIONS AND TO APPLY: 7DVT.PUB/HEALTHYLIVING

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

86 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?

Executive Director The Current, a Center for Contemporary Art in Stowe, Vermont, is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization through a period of growth and institutional evolution. The role combines strategic leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising, community engagement, and operational oversight. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director serves as the organization's chief executive officer and public ambassador, working closely with staff, artists, donors, trustees, and community stakeholders. The organization seeks a leader who can balance vision with execution, financial discipline with creativity, and decisive leadership with collaboration, integrity, and inclusiveness. This is a full-time, in-person position. The anticipated salary range is $75,000–$85,000 and includes a comprehensive benefits package. The final salary is determined based on the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications. To view complete job post or to apply, please visit: thecurrentnow.org/opportunities

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Electrical Technician The Facilities Department at Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for a full-time Electrical Technician. This position assists the electrical supervisor and supports the department to ensure all campus electrical systems are fully operational. The position is Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm with the need for overtime and working off hours/days at times. The salary range for this position is $20- $24/hour. For the full job description: 7dvt.pub/stmichaels To apply: bit.ly/3TBnT5O

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

9/21/26 1:15 PM

ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Salary: $125,000 / year Full-time – Exempt Open September 4, 2026 – Closes September 25, 2026 Montpelier is the nation’s smallest state capital — and one of its most resilient. Having navigated a major flood and a global pandemic, the city is entering a new chapter of vitality and opportunity. We’re looking for a strategic, collaborative leader to step into a pivotal role alongside the City Manager and help shape Montpelier’s future. This is a rare chance to work at the intersection of housing, economic development, infrastructure modernization, public safety, and good governance — in a community that genuinely cares. ABOUT THE ROLE The Assistant City Manager serves as a trusted strategic partner to the City Manager and a core member of the city’s leadership team. This position provides operational oversight, drives cross-departmental initiatives, supports the Montpelier City Plan and City Council’s Strategic Plan, and steps in as Acting City Manager during the Manager’s absence. The role also leads public engagement, guides policy development, stewards financial resources, and champions a workplace culture of excellence and accountability. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • Strategic leadership • Partner with the City Manager on leadership, governance, and operational oversight. Serve on the City Leadership Team and act as City Manager when needed.

• Community engagement • Represent the city to partners, the State Legislature, and the public. Build relationships with residents, businesses, and regional agencies. Lead public engagement on Council priorities. • Operational oversight • Foster an accountable, inclusive organizational culture. Champion cross-department collaboration, remove barriers, and mentor direct reports. • Policy development • Develop data-informed proposals for Council consideration. Guide department heads on policy implementation and lead state-level advocacy efforts. • Budget stewardship • Support long- and short-term financial planning. Write grants, manage RFPs, oversee procurement compliance, and advocate for funding approvals. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Bachelor’s degree in public administration, policy, business, or related field • 7+ years in government, public management, or financial administration (equivalency considered) PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS • Master’s degree in a related field • Extensive municipal government experience; Vermont knowledge a strong plus • Thorough knowledge of the principals of municipal government administration • Demonstrated ability to handle confidential records, bid proposals, and negotiating positions • Proven success leading diverse teams, managing budgets, and implementing policy matters of

significance • Leadership qualities we value • Integrity, transparency, and respect for subject matter experts • Clear, effective communication with staff, elected officials, and the community • Commitment to equitable service delivery, good governance, and ethical behavior • Professional composure in complex political situations and a lifelong learning mindset BENEFITS Generous Paid Vacation and Sick Leave plans 12 Paid Holidays VMERS Pension + 457(b) Health, dental & vision insurance Short & long-term disability City-provided life & AD&D insurance Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with generous city contribution Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Limited remote work considered EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Montpelier welcomes applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, or citizenship status. We comply with Vermont and federal fair employment law. View the FULL JOB DESCRIPTION on our Website: https://www.montpelier-vt.org/Jobs.aspx Please email resume and cover letter no later than 9/25/2026 to HR Director, Tanya Chambers, tchambers@montpelier-vt.org

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

87 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) We are currently looking for a Maintenance Technician within our Building Operations. This is an excellent opportunity to join the Housing Retention Services team, where you can gain a deep understanding of our business , make a difference in people’s lives every day, and advance your career. Who We Are: Burlington Housing Authority serves the greater Burlington community with housing that is affordable, rental assistance, and support services. Our mission is to provide low-income, vulnerable members of our community access to safe, affordable housing and retention support services in ways that encourage stability, improve quality of life, end homelessness, and foster vibrant neighborhoods. BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus! Position Overview: The Maintenance Technician performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties. This includes building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Building Operations Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies. Current rotation is once every 6-7 weeks. Work Location and Other Requirements • This position is an in-person in Burlington, VT. • A valid driver’s license is required to carry out the duties of this position Qualifications: While all applicants need to demonstrate a passion for supporting our residents and helping advance Burlington Housing Authority’s mission, we recognize that some applicants may not possess all qualifications listed. We are willing to consider individuals who demonstrate comparable life experience and education in lieu of specific requirements, and/or the will, ability, and initiative to grow into new areas of responsibility. Knowledge and Experience • Qualified candidates should have a minimum of two years of work in general building maintenance or building trades. The ideal candidate would have a demonstrated proficiency in building trades including carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing, grounds keeping, and snow removal. • The physical activities for this position include squatting, ascending and descending ladders, scaffolding, and stairs, working in small or confined spaces, twisting and lifting up to 100 pounds, often repeating motions with wrists, fingers, and hands. This position works in all environmental conditions. • Technicians must be detail oriented, efficient, be able to work within time sensitive parameters, and able to work independently, as well as part of a team. • Having strong interpersonal skills and being sensitive to the needs of the elderly, disabled, and very low-income households is a must. • Completed high school or equivalency, or any equivalent trade school along with a combination of training and maintenance experience. • Must have the ability to perform painting and janitorial work, perform minor electrical and plumbing repairs, and to get along well with fellow employees and Residents. Physical Requirements Occasionally: • Ascends and descends ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like • Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time Constantly: • Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces • Moving to accomplish tasks or moving from one job site to another • Adjusting or moving objects

• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers • Operating machinery / heavy equipment and/or power tools • Operating motor vehicles • Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned • Communicating with others to exchange information Environmental Conditions Occasionally working in: • Low and high temperatures • Outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind. • Noisy environments • Hazardous conditions • Poor ventilation • Small and/or enclosed spaces Physical Demands: Occasionally: • Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting and/or standing • Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds • Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds • Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more Total Compensation Base wages Pay range is between $24.00 - $26.00 per hour. PLUS, a $1,500 sign on bonus – paid in two installments. This is a full time position with benefits. Benefits • Health Insurance (BHA covers between 80% to 83% of the premium for employees) or a $6,000 opt-out payment in lieu of BHA health insurance. (To qualify for the OptOut, proof of health insurance is required.) • Health Reimbursement Account. BHA pays 90% of the deductible as the insurance is being used. That’s up to $2,880 for single enrollment and up to $5,760 for twoperson and family • Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts • Dental and vision insurance (Voluntary plans offered at a discounted group rate.) • Short and long term disability coverage (BHA pays 50% of discounted group rate) • Basic life insurance and accidental death (provided at no cost to employees) • Retire plan is a defined contribution plan. BHA makes annual contribution equal to 10% of base wages • Section 457 plan. BHA employees can contribute to this retirement plan • Employee Assistance Plan • Generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays • Annual Performance Bonus Interested in this career opportunity? Send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org. Human Resources, Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main Street, Suite 101, Burlington, VT 05401 Find more info about these career opportunities at burlingtonhousing.org. BHA is an E.O.E.

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

88 SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) We are currently looking for a Housing Retention Specialist within our Housing Retention Services department. This is an excellent opportunity to join the Housing Retention Services team, where you can gain a deep understanding of our business, make a difference in people’s lives every day, and advance your career. Who We Are: Burlington Housing Authority serves the greater Burlington community with housing that is affordable, rental assistance, and support services. Our mission is to provide lowincome, vulnerable members of our community access to safe, affordable housing and retention support services in ways that encourage stability, improve quality of life, end homelessness, and foster vibrant neighborhoods. BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus! Position Overview Housing Retention Specialist: Provides assistance to residents who have barriers to maintaining housing and/or subsidy. The Housing Retention Specialist works with residents in Chittenden County for the most part and will occasionally provide support to neighboring regions. The Housing Retention Specialist works collaboratively with community service agencies and providers in addition to Section 8, Property Management and Inspection Staff and reports to the Director of Housing Retention and Services. Permanent Supportive Housing Specialist: Provides assistance to community members within Chittenden County who are without housing and have significant medical/mental health barriers to locating and securing housing in Burlington Housing Authority’s service area. Work Location and Other Requirements These positions are in person in Burlington, VT. A valid driver’s license along with reliable personal transportation, with vehicle insurance and registration, is required to carry out the duties of this position Qualifications: While all applicants need to demonstrate a passion for supporting our residents and helping advance Burlington Housing Authority’s mission, we recognize that some applicants may not possess all qualifications listed. We are willing to consider individuals who demonstrate comparable life experience and education in lieu of specific requirements, and/or the will, ability, and initiative to grow into new areas of responsibility. Knowledge and Experience • Bachelor’s degree in social work (or related field) with two to five years of direct service experience, including experience with mental health and substance use supports. • Must have experience with diverse and vulnerable populations. • Effective verbal and written communication and knowledge of the social services network in the greater Burlington area. • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and internet navigation preferred. • Excellent organizational skills required. • Must be adept at fostering positive and collaborative relationships with staff, residents, vendors and community agencies

• Must have a patient and compassionate approach to working with the most vulnerable populations Total Compensation This is a full time position with benefits Base wages Housing Retention Specialist: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour PLUS $2000 SIGN ON BONUS Permanent Supportive Housing Specialist: $26.00 - $27.00 per hour PLUS $2000 SIGN ON BONUS Benefits • Health Insurance (BHA covers between 80% to 83% of the premium for employees) or a $6,000 opt-out payment in lieu of health insurance • Health Reimbursement Account. BHA pays 90% of the deductible as the insurance is being used. That’s up to $2,880 for single enrollment and up to $5,760 for two-person and family. • Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts • Dental and vision insurance (Voluntary plans offered at a discounted group rate.) • Short and long term disability coverage (BHA pays 50% of discounted group rate)

Join the Office of the Clerk of the House for the 2027 Legislative Session

Looking for a meaningful seasonal job? Join a small, nonpartisan team supporting the Vermont House of Representatives, right at the heart of state government. These full-time roles are based in Montpelier, VT, running from November/December 2026 through May 2027. The anticipated wage will start at $23.00-$28.34/hr, depending on the position, and the seasonal roles do not include health benefits. To view open opportunities, go to https://legislature. vermont.gov/home/siteresources/career-opportunities

• Basic life insurance and accidental death (provided at no cost to employees) • Retire plan is a defined contribution plan. BHA makes annual contribution equal to 10% of base wages

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• Section 457 plan. BHA employees can contribute to this retirement plan • Employee Assistance Plan • Generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays. • Annual Performance Bonus Interested in this career opportunity? Send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org. Human Resources Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401 Find more info about these career opportunities at burlingtonhousing.org. BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

SHORT ORDER COOK SHORT ORDER (Early morning shifts) COOK

(Early morning shifts) Duties include: Duties include: • Prepare breakfast & lunch • Prepare breakfast & lunch items to order items to order • Maintain a clean, organized, and • Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary work station. sanitary work station. • Ensure food is prepared • Ensure food is prepared& efficiently consistently, accurately accurately & efficiently • consistently, Restock ingredients as needed •• Restock ingredients as needed Assist front counter team members • Assist front counter team members with customer service with customer service We’re looking for someone who is: We’re looking for someone who is: • Friendly, dependable & punctual • Friendly, dependable & punctual Able to work efficiently and multitask in a efficiently fast-pacedand kitchen • Able to work in a fast-paced kitchen • multitask Previous short-order cooking experience preferred cooking • Previous short-order • experience Competitivepreferred pay based on experience, flexible scheduling • Competitive pay based on experience, Apply today! flexible Stop in, scheduling call, or email us yourtoday! resume. Apply Stop in, call, or email vermontrestaurantgroup us your resume. @gmail.com vermontrestaurantgroup @gmail.com

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8/3/26 3:49 PM

CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.77) CROSSWORD (P.77)

fun stuff JEN SORENSEN HARRY BLISS

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

fun stuff JULIANNA BRAZILL

TIM SNIFFEN

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL SEPTEMBER 24-30 TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Your spirit

LIBRA (SEP. 23-OCT. 22)

In the 18th century, Libran philosopher Denis Diderot was instrumental in creating the Encyclopédie. It wasn’t the first compendium of the world’s knowledge, but it was the most ambitious and comprehensive. In 28 volumes, it assembled contributions from a large number of writers, including leading figures of the French Enlightenment. Robust collaboration was key to its enduring influence. In the coming weeks, Libra, I’m hoping that you, like Diderot, will be an initiator and facilitator of rich cooperation. Conversations, partnerships and shared projects could generate insights that none of the participants would have discovered alone. By inviting multiple perspectives into the discussion, you will help cultivate a fertile weave of ideas.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In the practice of niwaki, Japanese gardeners shape trees so they look both natural and artfully composed. They prune and style the branches to dramatize the tree’s inherent character. Their goal is to collaborate. I recommend you experiment with a similar approach in the coming weeks, Aries. Try partnering with the living processes in your sphere rather than simply imposing your will on them. Ask yourself: What is trying to flourish here? Can I coax out some useful beauty? How can I coordinate my own intelligence with nature’s intelligence?

creatures for the coming weeks are the slowmoving giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands. They can live for more than a century. They conserve energy, move deliberately and carry their protection with them. I believe you will benefit from embracing their ways in the coming weeks, Taurus. Refuse to be rushed or pressured, either by others or yourself. Proceed at the precise rate you need to. Your natural strength will thrive through your incremental steadiness. PS: Consider giving yourself a tortoise nickname.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): A master

perfumer composes a fragrance in three layers. The top notes are what you smell first. They’re vivid and volatile. The next layer blooms gradually, unfurling the heart notes of the fragrance. Underneath everything are the deep, resinous base notes, which don’t fully reveal themselves for hours and cling longest to the skin. Let this be a metaphor to guide your joys and pleasures in the coming weeks, Gemini. Relish the bright top notes that flare and vanish, but persist long enough for the heart to open, and longer still for the deep base notes to emerge. Gather all the rich delights, not just some.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): It’s hard, scary

work for a crab to molt its shell and grow a bigger one. As it waits for its new protection to grow, its soft, tender body is exposed and vulnerable. That’s why it often hides in rock crevices, neither moving nor eating until its armor returns. Your situation, dear Cancerian, isn’t nearly as dire as the poor, defenseless crab’s. But as you power through your own personal molting season, I urge you to enhance your psychic protection. You need to feel extra safe and secure.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Bats navigate by

echolocation. They send out sounds and interpret the echoes. But when competing for food, they may also jam each other’s sonar, generating acoustic interference that makes navigation harder for rivals. A similar phenomenon occurs in human populations. Some of the noisy talk we hear is other people’s jamming signals. Consciously or unconsciously, they’re creating interference that may make it harder for us to navigate. Now is a good time

for you to learn better how to distinguish between real information and meaningless hubbub. Refine your filters.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Jan Tschichold

(1902-1974) was a brilliant typographer who revolutionized graphic design. He left his mark on millions of books. But later in life, he rejected some of his own rules, returning to classical typography and critiquing his earlier work as too rigid. In this spirit, dear Virgo, I will ask you if some of your long-standing rules no longer serve you. Is it possible that some of your own “best practices” may have calcified into unexamined dogma? The coming months will invite productive heresy against your past selves. You’re allowed to contradict your earlier convictions. Hint: Your vigorous evolution requires it.

are examples of the “nothings” you can turn into treasures.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’ve got a rough, tough assignment for you: Dare yourself to be startled by your own exquisite beauty. Be bold and even brazen in appreciating what a marvelous creature you are. Can you summon the necessary audacity? I think you can. Please notice the ways you have underestimated your gifts, minimized your impact or edited out your brilliance to make others comfortable. Allow yourself to feel the tender shock of recognizing that you’re more interesting and mysteriously compelling than you’ve been trained to believe. PS: This will help you call on even deeper inner resources in the coming weeks.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the volcanic

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian writer Virginia Woolf was a fount of interesting ideas. Sometimes she pushed her active mind to track them down and capture them, but on other occasions, she enjoyed gathering gems that arrived as her imagination wandered and drifted. These “moments of being” provided her with small treasures while she was walking in nature, taking a bath or doing nothing in particular. I believe that you are now primed to experience many such pleasurable eruptions of insight. In the coming weeks, pauses and lulls and intermissions will open unexpected portals.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): For the low price of $199, I could expertly dispel that annoying curse you’ve been lugging around. But I would feel sleazy taking your cash when you are fully capable of zapping the curse yourself. So instead I will recommend that you perform the banishing ritual, then write yourself a check for $199. Here’s how. Step 1: Visualize an object that represents the curse. Imagine hurling it into a beach bonfire and watching it burn. Step 2: Bring to mind a person you believe contributes to the curse. Envision a rope that ties the two of you together, waist to waist. Then imagine yourself revving up a chainsaw, slicing through the binding and declaring, “You have no power over me!” Step 3: Roll on the floor as you laugh and cry tears of giddy release.

seas around Iceland, underwater eruptions sometimes build entirely new islands that rise from the waves as bare, black rock. During the ensuing years, wind and waves and seabirds seed them with life. Mosses, lichens, hardy plants and nesting birds slowly transform the raw lava into a living shore. I’m rooting for you to instigate a similar process, Scorpio. My prediction: A development that initially seems stark or unfinished could become fertile ground for growth. Your perceptive instincts will recognize possibilities before they are obvious to others. Be patient with beginnings that look raw. invite you to achieve minor miracles that will enable you to brag at parties about how you created something out of nothing. Not in a loud, egotistical way but with a sly glimmer in your eye, as if you’re sharing secrets about how reality can be coaxed into generosity if you approach it with imagination and chutzpah. Yes, dear Sagittarius, I’m ecstatic to inform you that now is a favorable moment to turn scraps into usefulness, boredom into invention and vague hunches into tangible results. Be alert! Be on the lookout! Scout around for raw materials that have been overlooked or dismissed. Half-abandoned projects? Mercurial inclinations? Fugitive fantasies? Seemingly idle conversations that reveal marvelous glints and gleams? These

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

NEW EARTH PARTNER I think an open-minded, nature-loving, self-aware, creative, slender gal would be nice, 56 to 74. marcus, 28, seeking: W, l

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com WOMEN seeking... LAID-BACK FUNNY GIRL I’m a curvy girl who enjoys cuddly but confident men. I enjoy reading, hiking and cooking. I love lazy mornings with a hot cup in my hand and a cozy blanket. Looking for someone to be the big spoon to my little spoon. Bookbunny, 39, seeking: M KIND HEARTS, ACTIVE MINDS ONLY My happiest moments are spent with family, my Labs and people I care about. I love warm sunny days, swimming, the ocean, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, live music, sports, and plenty of laughter. With retirement on the horizon, I’m excited to travel, try new adventures, and hopefully meet someone kind, affectionate, easygoing and fun to share them with. njoylife, 58, seeking: M, l READY TO SHARE MY WORLD Life is simple and beautiful. Betsy, 53, seeking: M HAPPILY RETIRED I love being retired, but something is missing: someone to enjoy life with. Someone to make good memories and a new chapter in our life. I love nature, and I enjoy outdoor activities. I’m very outgoing and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I like to travel. There are so many beautiful places on this Earth to see. LadyinVt, 69, seeking: M, l

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common! All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online. photos of l See 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

RETIRED ANTHROPOLOGIST, UNRETIRED CURIOUSITY Field notes from a life well traveled. Decades in East Africa taught me to listen closely and question my assumptions. Now I’ve traded savanna for Vermont forest — and pursue off-the-beaten-path adventures wherever I can. Avid reader and serious Nordic noir fan. Looking for someone not afraid of a woman who asks “Why do people do that?” for a living. RiftValleyRambler, 64, seeking: M, l SEEKING PARTNER IN CRIME Well-traveled, friendly extrovert who loves dancing, art, music, good food, laughter, downhill and cross-country skiing, biking, cuddling, bonfires, bubble baths. Seeking that special person to create memories with; to dance, sing, hold hands and laugh with. Someone who has also led an interesting life and is healthy, smart, self-confident, supportive, passionate, musical and adventurous. By the way: Pisces, Virgo rising, like the song. carpediem802, 70, seeking: M, l FUN-LOVIN’ GIRL I bring fun, laughter and a great playlist to the table. Seeking a kind, ambitious man who values good communication and knows how to relax and enjoy life. Someone warmhearted and ready for fun. Karrington, 63, seeking: M, l CURIOUS WANDERER, COLLECTS EXPERIENCES I like to gather passport stamps, weird hobbies and conversation topics that go one layer deeper. Looking for someone who’d rather dig into a new idea than talk about the weather and who considers exploring new places a routine activity. Bonus points if you’re a lifelong learner and love to swap stories. LuceStellare, 40, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l GRACEFUL AGGIE I’m an active, well-educated woman seeking a kind, honest, intelligent man for companionship and fun. I’m a writer and editor working in regenerative agriculture. I love to dance, deejay, hike and garden, and my silly side appreciates dad jokes, board games, dogs and cats, concerts, plays, other languages, new foods, and sitting around doing nothing. Want to join me? Graceful_Aggie, 64, seeking: M, l SHINY, HAPPY SOUL, SMILING I’ve been told I have a vibe that draws people to me. My laugh is loud and genuine. Friends say I am open, warm, loving, energetic. What am I looking for? That special click: a sizzling passion, a partner who is happy and full of life. We’ll crack each other up, talk about the hard stuff, work hard, play hard. SmilingDeeply, 50, seeking: M, l ACTIVE AND FUNNY I am a person who loves to be active. I enjoy nature and being outdoors. Hiking, biking, walking, dancing are a few of my favorites. I am looking for a long-term relationship, and I realize these things take time, so getting to know each other first is the best place to start. ActiveAnnie, 62, seeking: M

SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

CURIOUS. PLAYFUL. TENDER. Direct, kind, darkly funny, endlessly curious. I’m an animal lover, cello novice, cold-case sleuth, winter person, research-rabbit-hole enthusiast and believer in science with room for a little woo. I’m seeking steady companionship, mutual curiosity, adult communication and maybe more, if it grows naturally. Homebody-friendly, independent, quirky, emotionally mature. No smoking or drugs; infrequent social drinking only. MissionImpossible, 56, seeking: W, TM, TW, l ENERGETIC HEARTFELT POSITIVE CUP I believe in nature, connections, laughter, hugging, hugging a lot, colors, textures and patterns, working hard, witty conversations, me. I am strong, feminine, funny and talkative. I like most sports and outdoor activities. I sew, crochet, paint. I like card games. I own a cabin, an ATV, a brush hog. I love music and dancing. I love my family. Cabingirl, 70, seeking: M, l VILLAGER LOOKING FOR A VILLAGE I moved to Burlington in 2023 and am looking for new connections. I’m seeking activity partners who can help plan a hiking trip or festival date. I like to be toward the front at a live music show, wander the woods or catch a play. Dimothy, 38, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l ECHOLOCATION Single, kind, funny, real. Looking for a meaningful, sustainable connection. I like movies, theater, comedy, music, books, and effortless conversations, both deep and stupid. You, too? Let’s go for a walk to see if we vibe. firewatcher3000, 53, seeking: M PERIPATETIC, CREATIVE, INDEPENDENT ARTIST I’m considering relocating to Vermont or perhaps Canada. I’m applying for my certificate of Canadian citizenship based on my great-grandmother’s citizenship. I enjoy hiking and horseback riding in Vermont. Villanelle, 70, seeking: M

MEN seeking... WHERE IS MY PERSON? I’m not sure what to write here — let’s just have a conversation. NyBrandon, 41, seeking: M, l UNDERSTANDING PERSON Looking for friend with benefits. Probably strong friendship after; looking for sex, for the most part. Dev, 30, seeking: W KIND, EARTHY HUMANIST Worked hard to get where I am, living a happy life in my own home in the country. I love music, theater, reading and writing, intelligent people of all sorts, animals, the Earth. Retired teacher, deeply rooted in Vermont, wants to meet kind, smart lover of food, art (theater, ballet, fine arts, poetry, orchestra, sculpture) and travel. Triumphant survivor of a TBI. baldgregory, 55, seeking: W, l

OLDER, ATHLETIC DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST, WRITER Recent widower, age 84, seeks someone near my age for friendship, companionship and possible travel. My ideal would, like me, be thin, comfortable on a heart-healthy diet, mentally and physically fit, well educated, financially independent, like to garden, and still like to bicycle, hike, ski — both cross-country and Alpine — and more. If this fits you, please reach out to me. AthleticWidowerAt84, 84, seeking: W, l OLD SCHOOL New to this again. Would like someone who can travel at the drop of a hat — museums, concerts, dinner, historic sites, friends. fcleff, 77, seeking: W, l BRIAR BITTEN BIDING MY TIME I’ve been looking and yearning and running in circles. Now I’m tired of this tracing, and I lay back for hours. In the graveyards and the rivers, now I’m minding my own. You join me if ya wanna, just a-watching the stones. reginaldgatorade, 27, seeking: W, Q, NC, NBP, l I’M NOT DEAD YET Love being outside, no matter the season. There is always something that motivates a person to try something new. I am curious, loving and grouchy but will always stand up for the underdog. Bilingual French and English. tobias, 66, seeking: W, l FUN, SPIRITUAL, SARCASM, HONEST Very active, non-needy, very affectionate, and still believe in love, sensuality and caring. Looking for someone easygoing, smart and attractive at our age. antman222, 74, seeking: W, l LAID-BACK, EASYGOING Love long walks, hiking, getting to know new people. I’m a lover looking for a new friend or a girlfriend or maybe a girl friend with benefits. Johncarle, 50, seeking: W, l THE SPORTY GEEK My name is John, and I am from southern Vermont! Currently serving in the Army while also working full time as a manufacturing technician for a biopharmaceutical company. I am a part-time graduate student studying biology. For fun, I enjoy being outside in my town, mainly walking with my pups, along with playing rugby! I also read, on occasion. JohnM7, 30, seeking: W, l LAID-BACK AND FUN I enjoy seeing others succeed and overcoming their obstacles. I enjoy cooking and cleaning to decompress from stress. Am returning to school to get my master’s as a second career. bluesky333, 40, seeking: W SEEKING OLDER BUSTY WOMAN Respectful, easygoing younger guy seeking a local older woman for friendship, closeness, affection. I love and crave full curves and soft, generous breasts — no such thing as too big — and want to worship them and you properly: attention, appreciation, no rush. Looking for someone comfortable in her body who likes being held and adored; real chemistry. Lowdrama, eager to meet someone local. MyNameIsRemus, 41, seeking: W, l

ADVENTURES AND MAKING MEMORIES After years of thinking about what kind of partner I see myself with, I came to realize I want someone who loves the outdoors as much as I do. Hiking, camping, random road trips. The No. 1 thing I want in a partner is someone who enjoys cycling. cyclingsteve, 45, seeking: W, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking... SCRAPPY BUT SWEET — HI Hairy and awesome, I like to fight with sticks at the river and ride mopeds and eat yummy food. I like my friends, dancing and music. I’m looking to meet cool people and do fun adventures or whatever. Life is life, and love is wonderful. Just getting lunch is cool, too. LuckyDragon, 22, seeking: W, NBP, l COOL, CARING, CRUNCHY BUTCH A jacked butch with a big heart. I’m a great conversationalist who will cook you dinner, change your oil and bring you flowers. I’m a homebody, but I’m equally happy cruising in my convertible. Most evenings you’ll find me in my garden or practicing martial arts. I’m looking for the Scully to my Mulder. Are you up for an adventure? little_car, 25, seeking: W, l NERDY, CREATIVE ENM I am AFAB femme in an open marriage. I am demisexual and need to get to know someone before jumping into bed. My ideal match would be someone who wanted to make a connection with me and who got along alright with my (straight male) spouse. Being able to all hang out, play games and fool around sounds lovely. Wordynerd, 42, seeking: M, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP LIFE SHAPED BY LABYRINTH NB, queer, kinky, shy author and historian seeks friends, fellow artists and/or sex partners of all genders. Let’s make silly puns, talk about our creative work and bike around Burlington. If you want to hear about the imaginary, magical Vermont town of Hardship, the historical queers I keep finding or Jareth as role model, hit me up. ModernWizard, 47, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

COUPLES seeking... HOW DO YOU LOVE ME? We are getting closer. We are excited to receive each other! You may not think you want poly-fidelity, but if you did, what would we be like together? How are we welcoming children into our life together? Nataraja, 46, seeking: M, W, l LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires. Jackrabbits, 62, seeking: W, Cp FUN COUPLE LOOKING FOR EXPLORATION We are a secure couple who enjoy the outdoors, good wine, great food, playing with each other, exploring our boundaries and trying new things. We are 50 and 52, looking for a fun couple or bi man to play and explore with us. We are easygoing, and we’d love to meet you and see where our mutual adventures take us. vthappycouple, 52, seeking: M, Cp, Gp ENJOYING LIFE Seeking adventurous encounters with open-minded, respectful people. sunshines, 49, seeking: M, W, Cp

i SPY

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

dating.sevendaysvt.com

HOTTIE AT MARIA’S BAGELS Younger lady with a killer body who couldn’t resist flirting while we were waiting. When: Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Where: Maria’s Bagels. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916670 MAYBE YO-YOING IS A FLEX? We joked around at the toy store, and you impressed me with your yo-yo skills. We were both with our kids, so I felt too shy to ask for your number. Want to hang out sometime? When: Saturday, September 19, 2026. Where: Montpelier. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916669 HERE COMES THE AIRPLANE Trans diva who queened out with me during my STI appointment: When you asked if I needed a countdown for taking my blood, I said no, but you could pretend it was an airplane. You were game and even made noises. Adorable. When: Friday, September 18, 2026. Where: Planned Parenthood of Burlington. You: Genderqueer. Me: Trans woman. #916668 SILVER FOX AT CITY MARKET You: pulling a turquoise BMW out of the downtown parking lot at 2:20. Me: the CR-V that waited to let you leave. Your firm wave of thanks indicated good manners. That, plus a well-groomed beard and presumptive good taste in food, is all I need to see. If you’re looking, I’m looking at you. When: Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Where: City Market downtown. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916667 AS YOU WISH Hurts more now than when it did two years ago, when this all started. Who knew so many were seeking what could’ve been theirs, in their own way, but they demanded it be from someone else? When: Monday, August 17, 2026. Where: in the paper. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916664

SOUTH END CITY MARKET We passed in an aisle, said hi, exchanged nice smiles. I found you striking! You have long gray hair and a nose piercing — maybe you’re around my age, early forties? I have shortish curly brown/ gray hair, glasses, was wearing a shirt with lemons on it. We didn’t have a chance to talk, but I’d love to know you! When: Sunday, September 13, 2026. Where: South End City Market. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916666 TREKKINGCOUPLE WHAT’S UP? Hey there, I got your flirt and inadvertently deleted it. (Easy to do with one wrong move — poof!) I found your profile pretty vague. Can you give me a little more on what you are looking for? Not sure how this will go, so I will leave it at that. When: Thursday, September 10, 2026. Where: Seven Days Flirts. You: Couple. Me: Man. #916665 MYSTICAL MUSIC FAN I spied you over my shoulder as we took in Sierra Ferrell’s performance. We had a chance for small talk and you said you would be crossing the lake for another visit Thursday. You had a sweet smile, long hair and a clear backpack with pink trim. I wanted to say more, but you slipped away into the starlit night. When: Friday, September 4, 2026. Where: Shelburne Museum concert. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916663 MIDDLEBURY CO-OP, SO MANY SMILES You were gorgeous dressed in all black as we exchanged multiple big smiles and eye contact. I saw you drive away in a white Mazda. I tried talking to you on your way out, but perhaps you were shy, too, as opposed to involved with someone else? Would love the opportunity to have a real conversation and connect again. When: Sunday, August 30, 2026. Where: Middlebury Co-op. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916660

Ask REVEREND Dear Crib Note,

LUNCH LADY OF MY DREAMS I miss having the chance to see you during lunch at school. School’s back in session — let’s get together and talk about what’s on the menu? When: Monday, June 1, 2026. Where: school. You: Woman. Me: Gender nonconformist. #916662 EYE CONTACT GAVE ME BUTTERFLIES You: in line in front of me at a brewery. You ordered and told the guy your name was John. I think you had a green polo on. Me: standing behind you in line. I felt you looking at me while I was looking at the menu. When: Thursday, September 3, 2026. Where: Burlington Beer. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916661 SHELBURNE QUEEN CITY CONTRA DANCE Met you last night at the Shelburne Queen City Contra Dance. You are an architect in Burlington. We talked about design, writing and sailing. I taught you how to waltz. Would you like to get a cuppa coffee? I regret not finding you before you departed. When: Friday, August 28, 2026. Where: Shelburne Queen City Contra Dance Hall. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916659 PEACH PURSE AT BREAD AND PUPPET Exchanged big smiles as you were walking up the aisle. Beautiful red/ brown hair; there with your parents and friend? You had a little brown purse with a peach. I grow peaches! Tried to find you after, to no avail. I was there with my mom, too. Would you want to connect and talk political activism, art and hanging with our parents? When: Friday, August 28, 2026. Where: Flynn Theater. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916658 YOU ARE SO VERY HANDSOME You came straight toward me; I was awestruck with your physique. Your gray shirt fit you perfectly. I couldn’t help but push my glasses up. I had things in my hands and realized too late that I used my middle finger. My mind was like, Oh, no, for many reasons. I know you saw me clearly. Clearly vulgar! No offense. When: Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Where: Hannafords NNE. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916656 PERRYWINKLE’S You told me you’re new to Vermont. Just moved here from Minneapolis. Need someone you show you the sights? I’d happily oblige. When: Friday, August 21, 2026. Where: Perrywinkle’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916653



Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

My best friend has a 2-year-old child and just announced that she’s expecting a second baby. I’m not really into babies or parties, but as her BFF, I threw her a big baby shower the first time around. Does that mean I have to do it all over again?

Crib Note

(WOMAN, 27)

According to traditional etiquette, the big, blowout shower is reserved for the first baby. Raising a baby takes a whole heap of stuff, so when the first one is coming, you throw a party where guests “shower” the new mom (or dad, or parents) with all the necessary, and often expensive, equipment. Hence the name. There are exceptions to that rule, like when there’s a big age gap between babies, or if it’s a first child with a new partner. But those are all kind of old-fashioned technicalities. A more modern trend is to have a baby “sprinkle” for the second child (and subsequent children). A sprinkle is usually a smaller gathering

ON THE BACK ROADS TO WORK … in your maroon Toyota, you said you were hoping to see me again. You asked the time; I, glancing at my watch, said, “What time should it be to sit and talk?” My attempted teasing only turned more obtuse and borderline rude. I’m sorry for souring a sparkly moment and betraying your intuition, but thank you for taking a chance. When: Sunday, August 16, 2026. Where: between Marshfield and Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916655 GMP DRIVE-BY You drove by in the passenger seat of the yellow Green Mountain Power truck. I was sitting on my front steps and saw you and couldn’t look away. I have contemplated breaking shit so you have to come fix it. If nothing else, thanks, because our eyes locking gave me enough energy to finish all my chores for the day. When: Friday, August 21, 2026. Where: Maple Street, Waterbury Center. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916654 MY HEART DANCES You are beautiful. We have danced with each other a couple of times. Your smile, so happy and free, makes my world so much better. When I’m around you, I want to be with you. You have an aura that is indescribable. If you are reading this, I hope you feel the same way. Again, you are beautiful. When: Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Where: a lesson. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916652

STORM You’ve been on my mind lately. I hope you are well. I miss your soul. Have you visited a rage room yet? Let’s make beautiful art and cook ridiculously delicious food together. We can begin with a proper blackberry maple balsamic reduction. Are you game? — Sarah When: Saturday, June 13, 2026. Where: Williston (please forgive me, I forgot exactly how you identify). You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916649 HEALTHY LIVING RECOGNIZED FROM UVM You peeked into the restroom I was exiting to get paper towels because the dispenser in your restroom was empty. I said I recognized you from 1 S. Prospect St. You immediately agreed and said, “We’re dancing around each other.” We exited at the same time, and I foolishly kept on walking. I’d like to have a longer conversation. When: Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Where: Healthy Living, South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916647 BEAUTIFUL KAYAKER AT WATERBURY RESERVOIR You were just getting out of the water on Sunday morning; you had a white blouse on. I offered to help you load it, but you turned down my offer. Please reach out if you’re single. When: Sunday, August 9, 2026. Where: Blush Hill boat launch. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916646

WHY SO ANGRY?! I found it unsettling to be exposed to such petty behavior. You used to frown upon people like her. I wish you no ill will. I could have turned bitter and righteous. I only want you to be happy. It’s hard to believe we will ever lose connection. But, if that’s what you want, so be it. As you wish. When: Monday, August 17, 2026. Where: Winooski. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916651

DEAR SAILWITHME Saw your personals profile a while ago when I was contemplating online dating. I joined another platform, and you disappeared from this one. Then, just yesterday, I thought I’d check, wondering if you might be back, and there you were. Opportunity knocking, perhaps? One way to find out is for you to respond to this. Please do! When: Sunday, August 9, 2026. Where: Seven Days Personals. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916645

ROYAL PURPLE SANTA CRUZ STIG I spied you as the sun began to sink over the Adirondacks. I interrupted your cooldown with small talk about Camel’s Hump. You mentioned you were headed to Farmers & Foragers post-ride, because it is part of the loop. While I rely on fate to cause our paths to cross again, I threw it to the winds of iSpy. When: Saturday, August 15, 2026. Where: Causeway bike path. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916650

KAYAKING LAPLATTE RIVER You were in a long yellow kayak on the LaPlatte River; we talked about how far you could get upstream before the beaver dams stopped you. I was in a green/blue kayak and passed you again on your way out. Wish I had said hi while you were putting your kayak on your red Subaru. When: Sunday, August 9, 2026. Where: LaPlatte River, Shelburne. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916644

where guests can gift little-ticket items, like diapers and wipes. Another option is to host a “sip and see,” where close friends and family can meet the new arrival. Since it’s not a surprise that your friend is expecting, I suggest you talk to her about what she wants to do. She may be over the whole baby-shower thing herself. You’ll never know unless you ask. If your pal doesn’t want to have a party, perhaps you could arrange for just the two of you to do something special before the stork arrives. Foot the bill for a babysitter and take her out to lunch or a massage — you’ll score some big BFF points. Any new addition to the family deserves a celebration, even if it’s a little one. Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend

What’s your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com. SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

I’m a 60-y/o male looking for a woman aged 55 to 65 for a fun-filled threesome. Looking for someone looking for an adventure and some cuddling. Love to connect. #L1973 NEK woman, 67. Seeking 60-ish to 70-ish man to share easygoing, respectful conversation/companionship. Join me in cheerful, kindhearted, authentic charisma! My interests include country music, café dining, card games. You’re looking for a new “significant other bestie,” too? #L1974

I am looking for fun or something serious; someone I can spend time with and get to love. I want someone real. I love hard: I’ve got magic fingers. Come find out — LOL — let’s get physical. #L1979 I’m a 45-y/o bi male seeking a male or female between the ages of 35 and 70 to have sex with on a regular basis. No judgment there, just good, clean fun. Anything goes. Call or text. #L1978 We are three guys, two gay, one bi. One in his 50s, two in their 60s. Clean, sane and professional. Meet in Burlington at my place for man fun. Looking for another mate to four us. If interested, drop a line with phone number. #L1977

I’m a 67-y/o man seeking a M/F couple between 40 and 80. I would like to explore new dynamics and experiment in the bedroom. Please contact ASAP if you are interested. Thank you. #L1976 I’m a 75-y/o handsome man seeking a fairly attractive, mature woman, 70s to 80s, still sexually active. I’ve slowed down; love to cuddle nude on the couch. Love to pleasure you with oral sex. I’m full of passion and desire. Phone number, please. #L1972 Tall, thin, cuddly nerd looking for someone to share my passions with, whether wrapped in a blanket or on a nature walk. #L1970

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LETTERS: Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number. MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters

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SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 23-30, 2026

M, 67, seeks romance: a partner to enjoy concerts (baroque, Afro, etc.), fine art, bicycling, hiking, ice-skating, Québec (e.g. Montréal). Vegetarian; les Francophones sonts bienvenues. Never married, no kids. Me: retired, now devoted to music, writing, art. #L1975 I’m a man, 78. I love nature, good food; love the outdoors. Native Vermonter seeking a woman, 30s to 60s, for friendship and to spend quality time with. Would like to develop a friendship. I love doing things together outside in summertime. #L1971 I’m a 24-y/o male seeking a casually oriented older gentleman, 35-plus, well endowed, with a well airconditioned home with offstreet parking close to Trinity campus. #L1969

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. F, 22, looking for someone who loves this community as much as I do and wants to make it better. Let’s delight together in all the things our beautiful home state has to offer (including Seven Days!) #L1968 M, 29, seeking F, 23-39, who loves adventure, chaos and getting freaky. Must help me conquer the world, abolish clothing, establish a nudist empire and make questionable decisions together. Serious applicants only. World domination experience preferred, but enthusiasm and a complete disregard for pants are acceptable. #L1967 SWM. I’m seeking female companionship to share lonely moments, including outdoors, doing outdoor activities, coffee, dinner, romance, breakfast, etc. Your number will be useful; happy to connect. #L1966 I’m a 67-y/o female seeking a 60- to 70-y/o man. Living in central Vermont. Looking for an honest, loving relationship. Enjoy gardening, family, my dog and quiet times. Retired postal employee. #L1965

SWF, 58, with high level of fun physical and sexual energy, looking for single male, 45-plus, who can match my energy and have fun adventures in and out of the bedroom. I like walks, live music, travels, going out to eat, learning new things, games, art galleries, being outside and so much more. Anyone care to join me? #L1962 Looking for someone 65 and up to go on boat trips, RV camping, gardening, dinners and road trips. I go up to Maine with my boat and cruise the coast for a few weeks, spend time in my gardens (I have large gardens), love to cook at home or go out. I am retired and looking for some company to spend time with. Thank you. #L1959 SWM, 65, widower, seeking adventurous, edgy woman for sexy dressing and consensual one-to-one fun. Any body type. Sane, fit, secure. I’ll make you laugh. Emotionally available. The world is too serious. Let’s have some fun. Possible LTR. Woodstock. #L1961

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THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

Turning Pages With Mary – Live!

Day Tripper: Guided Daylong Bike Tour

THU., SEP. 24 PHOENIX BOOKS, ESSEX

SUN., SEP. 27 LOCAL MOTION TRAILSIDE CENTER, BURLINGTON

Dawn Tyler Watson – The Jazz Sessions

Featured Sunday Polo Matches

FRI., SEP. 25 16 SUNNYSIDE RD, PLATTSBURGH, NY

SUN., SEP. 27 AMDEZ POLO CLUB, SHELBURNE

'Pet Store: A Live Sitcom'

HairPeace

FRI., SEP. 25 OFF CENTER FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS, BURLINGTON

SUN., SEP. 27 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ESSEX JUNCTION

Queen City Ghostwalk: Darkness Falls Tour

Thea Lewis in Burlington | 'True Crime Stories of Vermont'

FRI., SEP. 25 199 MAIN ST, BURLINGTON

THU., OCT. 1 PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Flow State | missandri, Fever Dreams

PechaKucha Night

FRI., SEP. 25 THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

THU., OCT. 1 MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BURLINGTON

September Bird Monitoring Walk

Witch, Crafts & Halloween With Daniel Ouellette

SAT., SEP. 26 BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

THU., OCT. 1 STANDING STONE WINES, WINOOSKI

Skunk Fest 2026

Westford Honky Tonk Night

SAT., SEP. 26 THE UNDERGROUND, RANDOLPH

‘CONTROL TOP’

SAT., SEP. 26 SHELBURNE TOWN HALL

FRI., OCT. 2 WESTFORD COMMON HALL

LOW TIX

Movie Night FRI., OCT. 2 HULA, BURLINGTON

Vermont Beauty Show

TURNmusic Presents Edna

SAT., SEP. 26 DOUBLETREE BY HILTON, SOUTH BURLINGTON

FRI., OCT. 2 THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

TURNmusic Presents Helen Gillet

Rail City Tattoo Convention

SAT., SEP. 26 THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

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