Seven Days, November 2, 2022

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

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SPOOKY STUFF

Hundreds of costumed people biked through downtown Burlington during an annual Halloween ride. Just another Sunday in the Queen City.

LOOSE LIPS

Appearing on a radio show, Liam Madden, the GOP nominee for U.S. House, admitted to a campaign financing scheme that an expert called “blatantly illegal,” VTDigger.org reported. Whoops.

122,771

As of Monday, that’s how many ballots Vermonters had cast in advance of Election Day.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Advent of Religious Paperback Puzzles Some in Vermont” by Anne Wallace Allen. A Michigan publisher mailed copies of a Seventh-day Adventist book, The Great Controversy, to thousands of Vermonters who never asked for it.

2. “Tesla Plans to Open Its First Vermont Dealership in South Burlington” by Kevin McCallum. The EV maker hopes to set up shop in a former Hannaford supermarket off Shelburne Road.

Last Thursday evening, around 20 community members gathered with signs bearing a message in all caps: “WE NEED A HIGH SCHOOL. VOTE YES.” The school commission ers, parents and students waved their signs at cars exiting the Burlington Beltline and cruising up and down North Avenue.

The event was one of several held in recent weeks to encourage voters on Election Day to approve a $165 million bond to build a new high school and technical center. The project is necessary, the school district says, after high levels of airborne PCBs were detected inside school build ings in 2020. Since March 2021, Burlington teens have been attending classes downtown in a former Macy’s department store.

Supporters are making a concerted push to get the bond passed, using newspaper ads, lawn signs, grassroots organizing efforts, and conversations over coffee and on social media. Signs urging voters to reject the bond have also popped up, but the opposition is less organized.

The district is making four main arguments: A thriv ing high school is necessary for a healthy community, the cost is in line with other New England school projects, the PCB-tainted campus is unsalvageable, and changes to the Vermont schools funding formula will eventually offset the tax impact.

The school district has also placed advertisements in two local newspapers — the North Avenue News and Seven Days — for a total expenditure of $3,500. The nonprofit

Burlington Students Foundation has spent around $4,900 more on lawn signs, as well as postcards that volunteers are writing to Burlington residents.

Meanwhile, dozens of signs have sprung up around town that say “Enough is Enough: Vote No on BH$.” Former Burlington school commissioner David Kirk, who repre sented the city’s New North End from 2014 to 2018, told Seven Days that he spent around $1,000 to purchase the signs and has enlisted volunteers to help him put them up.

In September, Kirk said he would likely vote against the school bond because of its high price tag, which would raise his taxes and possibly drive him out of the city. In a phone interview last Thursday, Kirk said he believes Burlington needs a new high school but thinks the school district should have sought more community input before arriving at the final design and cost.

Kirk had a rocky tenure when he served on the school board. In the fall of 2016, he came under fire for posting racist memes on Facebook. He finished his term and did not run for reelection in 2018.

Burlington students have also joined the discussion. At an online forum for community members on October 13, high schoolers said the windowless space at the former Macy’s is loud and distracting, the facilities are inadequate for science labs, the Wi-Fi isn’t reliable, and the makeshift lunch room is awkward to navigate.

Read Alison Novak’s full story and keep up with develop ments at sevendaysvt.com.

BOOK CLUB

The Great Controversy, a Seventh-day Adventist text that has been circulating since the mid-19th century, caused a small stir when it arrived in the mailboxes of thousands of Vermonters over the past few weeks.

The book, which purports to tell of “the Vatican’s rising influence in America,” has been delivered to residents in nearly a dozen Vermont cities and towns. The cover shows the U.S. Capitol juxtaposed with St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Remnant Publications, a Bible publisher in Coldwater, Mich., sent the books. Deb Hall, who owns the business with her husband, Dwight, said she didn’t know how many copies went to Vermont, or where. They’re shipped out by the

BIG SHOES

The Committee on Temporary Shelter named longtime employee Jonathan Farrell as the new executive director. He’ll replace Rita Markley, who is retiring after 30 years.

FINDERS KEEPERS?

A fly-fishing guide found a olenellid trilobite fossil in Bennington County that’s likely 500 million years old, Vermont Public reported. Rock on.

3. “Conservative Legal Group Sues After Randolph Student Suspended” by Alison Novak. The Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal suit on behalf of a girl and her father who were accused of mistreating a transgender student.

4. “Cannabis Shops Are Sprouting Like Weeds in Burlington” by Sasha Goldstein. The Vermont Cannabis Control Board has granted three licenses to Burlington retailers. Six more applications are pending.

5. “Burlington Residents Can Earn $1,000 for Sharing Their Home” by Rachel Hellman. As a step to address the housing crisis, the city council approved spending $30,000 on incentives for people who rent out rooms in their homes.

tweet of the week

A kid just said I looked like one of the Hocus Pocus witches… I did not dress up this year.

thousands to blocks of zip codes at the request of donors, Hall said.

“It’s been our top seller,” Hall said of The Great Controversy. “People seem to really like that book.” It has a global following on social media.

In Montpelier, some puzzled homeowners took to Front Porch Forum to ask why their names were on the mailing label. Hall, though, said her com pany doesn’t “have any personal information.”

The controversy described in the 450-page paperback is the struggle between good and evil.

“It’s just a good gesture, a friendly way to spread the word,” Hall said. “We get phone calls that maybe they don’t like it, that it’s being pushed on them, which it’s not. We say, ‘Well, if you don’t like it, throw it away. Or take a look, or put it on a shelf for later.’”

The book was written in the mid-1800s by

Ellen G. White, a cofounder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and has gone out by the palletload over the years. More than 1 million landed in Manhattan mailboxes in 2013, and 700,000 arrived in Philadelphia ahead of a visit from the pope, according to media reports at the time.

A few Montpelier recipients bemoaned the waste of paper and said they would be writing “return to sender” on their copy and dropping it in the mail. One declared it should be burned.

Montpelier resident Dave Allin had different advice.

“You can’t put ‘return to sender’ on junk mail,” Allin wrote on Front Porch Forum. “Just throw the scary Jesus book in the recycling and get on with your day. Our postal carriers are overworked as it is.”

CONGRATULATIONS

ROCKIN’ THE VOTE.

publisher & editor-in-chief Paula Routly deputy publisher Cathy Resmer AssociAte publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts NEWS & POLITICS editor Matthew Roy deputy editor Sasha Goldstein consulting editors Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page stAff writers Derek Brouwer, Chelsea Edgar, Colin Flanders, Rachel Hellman, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Anne Wallace Allen

ARTS & CULTURE coeditors Dan Bolles, Elizabeth M. Seyler AssociAte editor Margot Harrison

Art editor Pamela Polston consulting editor Mary Ann Lickteig Music editor Chris Farnsworth cAlendAr writer Emily Hamilton speciAlty publicAtions MAnAger Carolyn Fox stAff writers Jordan Barry, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard, Sally Pollak proofreAders Carolyn Fox, Angela Simpson

AssistAnt proofreAders Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

DIGITAL & VIDEO

digitAl production speciAlist Bryan Parmelee senior MultiMediA producer Eva Sollberger MultiMediA journAlist James Buck

DESIGN creAtive director Don Eggert Art director Rev. Diane Sullivan production MAnAger John James designers Jeff Baron, Kirsten Thompson

SALES & MARKETING director of sAles Colby Roberts senior Account executives Robyn Birgisson, Michael Bradshaw Account executives Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka events & ticKeting MAnAger Katie Hodges legAls, life lines And super reAder coordinAtor Kaitlin Montgomery personAls coordinAtor Jeff Baron

ADMINISTRATION

business MAnAger Marcy Carton director of circulAtion & logistics Matt Weiner circulAtion deputy Andy Watts

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan Adams, Benjamin Aleshire, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Annie Cutler, Steve Goldstein, Margaret Grayson, Amy Lilly, Bryan Parmelee, Mark Saltveit, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Travis Weedon

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Luke Awtry, James Buck, Daria Bishop, Ben DeFlorio, Christine Glade, Caleb Kenna, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

Rutland, St. Albans,

Mirabel, Québec.

Plattsburgh, N.Y.

DELIVERY TECHNICIANS

Harry Applegate, Joe Bouffard, Pat Bouffard, Colin Clary, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Jason Fyfe, Matt Hagen, Peter Lind, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Niko Perez, Steve Stanley, Dan Thayer, Andy Watts

from PP&D.

PERFECT 100

[“On the Road: What Route 100 Says About Vermont: A Journey in Five Parts,” August 24] was outstanding — one of the best articles Seven Days has ever done. I loved it! I’m sure everyone who read it will want to get in their car and drive to more than one place! I know I have never seen all of Route 100! I think the five writ ers should get an award!

UP ON THE FARM

[Re “Organic Farming Advocates Welcome Proposed Federal Standards,” August 9, online]: Vermonters hold their farms and themselves to extremely high standards, so why should commercial farms be allowed to get away with whatever they want? Anne Wallace Allen’s article on strengthening the federal guidelines for organic farming was an outstanding piece on small dairy farms. Organic dairy farms provide us with products without harmful antibiotics, parasiticides and pesticides that many of us, rightfully, try to avoid.

Small, family-owned farms are the heart of this country. Why should they suffer the most? Small organic farms produce the highest-quality food in the most humane ways. Commercial farms’ No. 1 priority will always be making money, never their customers. Even when commercial farms are “organic,” they still don’t follow as many healthy practices as small farms do. Commercial farms should have to follow the same regulations that small farms have in place — not only for ethical reasons, but for health ones, too.

I am proud of the federal government’s choice to create a fair market and stop taking the side of large farms. Vermont’s dairy farmers deserve better than the treatment they receive for providing the community with fresh, clean and healthy milk. Maybe next time you get ice cream, don’t reach for Hershey’s but try a local brand instead. Nothing is better than a pint from a few miles down the road.

IS NOT NEUTRAL

wanted to say I like the articles but want to clarify something. I have learned from listening to the New York Times podcast “Hard Fork” that the “internet is just a tool, it’s how you use it” maxim is becom ing outdated and isn’t entirely accurate. Here’s an abbreviated quote from one of the hosts: “...the hammer analogy. I know you know what I’m talking about, where they say, like, ‘Well, hammer is just a tool.’ Like, you can use it to build a house, or you can use it to kill someone. And then, they’ll use that logic to say that ‘it’s neutral’ and that we should basically stop trying to control how these things are built and designed, because people are inevitably going to use them for good purposes and bad purposes.

And, to me, every time I hear the hammer analogy or this broader point about tech being neutral, it’s always a mark of someone who just hasn’t thought deeply about what they’re doing. Obviously, a hammer and how we use hammers has a lot to do with how they’re designed. It’s a pretty bad tool for killing someone.”

Predatory user interfaces influence how a piece of tech can be used. There’s a lot of responsibility on the creators to be mindful of the design. As an observer and consumer, I think about this more and more every day.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT ELECTION

Earlier this year, Seven Days did an article on small and local banks that spoke to the issues involved in merging the Vermont State Employees Credit Union and New England Federal Credit Union [“In Era of

Mergers, Vermont’s Smallest Banks Stay Attuned to Customers’ Needs,” March 30]. I believe the merger is exciting and decided that there was no better time than now to switch my banking to local bank ing and joined VSECU in the spring to be able to vote.

There is a critical need for afford able housing options in Vermont, and NEFCU has been a constant leader in Vermont with its initiatives to support affordable housing development and first-time home buyers struggling with affordability. With this merger, NEFCU members will now be able to take advantage of VSECU’s green lend ing programs, fuel-buying programs and home fuel loans. I’ve seen how the ability to access and use these programs impacts the day-to-day lives of Vermont ers. When I heard that VSECU and NEFCU were looking to combine their resources and blend their programs, it made sense to me. This merger means that more Vermonters will have access to these valuable programs.

On a personal note, I have had the opportunity to know both Rob Miller and John Dwyer, leaders of both credit unions. They are both genuinely good people, leaders with a vision, and have proven that they are focused on helping Vermont and Vermonters.

Count me as a “yes” vote. I encourage my member friends and neighbors to do the same.

Members will vote on the credit union merger on November 8.

MAKE IT, VERMONT

Thank you, Anne Wallace Allen and Seven Days, for your cover story on the trade shortages that confront Vermont’s construction industry [“Building a Work force,” October 12]. One dimension of this story that could use more sussing out is the relationship among construction, the health of our economy and the state’s marketing strategy.

In Vermont, construction contributes about 3.5 percent of our gross output, compared with 4 percent nationally. That’s a little less than half of the contri bution that the IT or tech sector contrib utes in Vermont.

Yet construction may be the third most recognizable feature of the Green Moun tain State’s landscape, after our forests and fields. You wouldn’t know about the sheer talent and ingenuity behind it from the state’s promotional materials, with incentives to attract remote workers and a host of programs that celebrate tech. The technical arts are left out of that celebration.

It isn’t a surprise to read about the stigma surrounding the programs at amazing places like the Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury.

I am someone who has supported the creation of startup makerspaces — places where art and craft, emerging technol ogy, and the trades intersect in exciting ways. It remains incredibly difficult to shift the gaze of funders to the work we do every day to enliven young imagina tions through the rewards of indepen dent, hands-on learning. Perhaps with a crisis looming, state agencies and private donors will take more risks with community-based learning models that complement the efforts of our outstand ing career and technical centers.

Let’s pitch Vermont, a great state to make!

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Siegel has been a tireless advocate for Vermonters. Brenda’s experience allows her to connect with people from every walk of life. She will continue to fight for a Vermont that works for all of us by improving access to housing, addressing the overdose crisis, and supporting working families. I support Brenda Siegel and hope you will too this November.

PETER WELCH, U.S. Congressman

BRENDA SIEGEL

“Brenda has the right experience to effectively lead for all Vermonters, including those who have been left behind on issues like housing, education, and health care. I am proud to endorse Brenda Siegel to be Vermont’s next Governor.”

HOWARD DEAN, Former VT Governor

“Brenda understands how to get things done, and can work collaboratively across the aisle to be successful. Brenda Siegel is the leader we need.”

BETH PEARCE, VT State Treasurer

LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE OF

MAGNIFICENT

Smells Like Zine Spirit

THURSDAY 3

Party People

With Election Day just around the bend, citizens meet up at Burlington’s Democracy Creative to discuss the expansive possibilities of collective governance at Thought Club. Drawing on the Queen City’s long history of radical political thinking, attendees listen to presentations on subjects as wide-ranging as artificial intelligence and Christian anarchism, then have a rousing discussion.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

FRIDAY 4

Have a Ball

Every first and third Friday, locals get their Jane Austen on at an English Country Dance at Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. This eminently British ball, hosted by Burlington Country Dancers, features run-throughs of each dance, expert callers, and live violin and harp music. The dress code is casual, in case you can’t find your bonnet.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 75

SATURDAY 5

Stick It to the Man

Women and nonbinary birders take to the woods around Huntington’s Green Mountain Audubon Center for a Stick Season edition of Women Who Bird. Longtime and novice avian enthusiasts alike rejoice at each sighting of a feathered friend making its home for the winter, from nuthatches to cardinals to woodpeckers.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 77

SUNDAY 6

Rock and Soul

Before Alisa Amador won NPR’s 2022 contest to become the first Tiny Desk performer with a live audience since before the pandemic, she had been on the brink of abandoning her music career. Thankfully, she didn’t, and music lovers can catch the Latin singer’s tender vocal stylings and genreblending grooves at Richmond Congregational Church.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 77

ONGOING Plaster of Arts

Visitors to Sam Colt’s solo show at Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery in Waterbury take a step back in time — with a foot firmly in modern art. Colt is an expert in grassello, or Venetian plasterwork, and other old European techniques such as gold leafing and faux bois. Her thoroughly contemporary murals thus feature trowel strokes rather than brushstrokes and pair technical mastery with abstract spontaneity.

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 60

Important medical decisions should be guided by a person’s health and wellbeing, not by a politician’s beliefs. Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned by the Supreme Court, state level protections are more vital than ever to safeguarding our reproductive autonomy.

In Vermont, that means passing Article 22, the Reproductive Liberty Amendment, to explicitly enshrine the right to reproductive healthcare in our state constitution.

ABORTION IS HEALTH CARE. ABORTION IS A RIGHT. VOTE YES.

Speak Up

This is the final issue of Seven Days before the November 8 general election, so you’ll notice plenty of letters to the editor, starting on page 6. Some are related to the candidates running for office, but most concern a question that Vermont voters will decide next Tuesday: whether to amend the state constitution to guarantee “personal reproductive liberty.”

Those in favor believe it’s a way protect a woman’s right to get a safe abortion in Vermont, at a time when so many other states in the country are trending in the opposite direction. Those against worry that approval of the amendment, also known as Proposal 5 and Article 22, might have unintended consequences or lead the way to grotesque interpretations of that liberty, including scenarios involving legalized infanticide and pedophilia.

On that and other issues, the Seven Days Feedback section represents a wide range of opinion and interpretation, which admittedly sometimes veers into the realm of organized advocacy and propaganda. Recognizing the power of the press, our newspaper has always tried to give readers the last word — as long as they’re willing to claim it with a real name and town of residence. We work hard to help readers express themselves, sometimes typing up handwritten snail-mail letters, such as this week’s “Perfect 100,” or suggesting edits to articulate an idea more clearly.

Although we vigorously fact-check the stories published in Seven Days, and let sources respond to potentially damaging claims contained in them, Feedback presents a unique challenge. Case in point: A few weeks ago, we received a well-reasoned letter calling critical attention to Malloy’s military rank. The writer, Tom Wagner of Charleston, who identified himself as “a former military officer,” claimed that with Malloy’s background, the candidate should have retired as either a lieutenant colonel or a colonel. That he never rose above a major suggests he must have been “passed over” for promotion — potentially a bad sign.

THIS LOCAL NEWSPAPER AIMS TO AMPLIFY ALL REASONABLE VOICES IN VERMONT.

I’ve been in charge of letters since we started Seven Days. It gives me great pleasure to work with all kinds of people to get their voices into the paper. I’m the rare publisher who personally calls the author of every one — almost always over the weekend — to verify their authenticity and hear what they have to say, about the paper and the state of the world.

At the start of the pandemic, when we decided to shut off anonymous online comments, I was overjoyed to see them go. Our print letters were so much more thoughtful and better crafted than what online readers would dash off, often with no civility or basis in fact. Screen names definitely don’t bring out the best in people.

Perhaps as a result of eliminating that virtual outlet, though, I’ve noticed that our Feedback section, like the country, is getting increasingly polarized. Last week I got a letter suggesting we impose stricter guidelines on the signed, verified letters. The writer, a Burlington resident who did not want to be publicly named, wrote: “...in the current political climate and [given] how easily disinformation spreads, I really wish Seven Days would correct a letter like Bob Devost’s, which is rife with accusations and talking points from the established conservative media outlets.”

The missive in question, in which Jericho resident Devost attempted to explain why he “cannot vote” for U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Peter Welch, was not exactly an endorsement of the Republican in the race, Gerald Malloy. Devost’s critic did not like the way he characterized the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as “abrupt” and suggested the U.S.-Mexico border is insecure. He said the first claim was factually incorrect and the second had “racist implications.”

“These are lies,” he wrote. “Call them out.” It would have been a good debate to have in the letters section — if he’d been interested in participating.

News editor Matthew Roy offered to research the claim. He called Norwich University and the Vermont Air National Guard in hopes of testing Wagner’s allegation. Neither provided a definitive answer, so we held the letter for further fact-checking. It might never have seen the page if Roy hadn’t run into Malloy at the Vermont Tech Jam and put the question to him directly. Last week, the Feedback section included the thoroughly vetted missive, “‘Passed Over’ for a Reason?” — one of the most interesting, informative letters of this political season, from a Vermonter offering expertise and insight many of us don’t have. Ideally, that’s what letters to the editor should be — valuable feedback from local folks whose knowledge or experience qualifies them to comment on our work. Astute readers pose questions that our coverage has left unanswered. It’s also OK to criticize other letters writers, as long as your point is civil and sound — not personal.

A growing number of well-informed readers email me directly with comments that should really be letters to the editor. For whatever reason — their job makes it risky, fear of social media backlash — they are reluctant to make their views public. Their lack of participation diminishes Seven Days — and, ultimately, our democracy.

If you know something that would enlighten your fellow citizens, please muster the courage to say, sign and send it. This local newspaper aims to amplify all reasonable voices in Vermont. With respect to our reluctant, anonymous letter writer, we believe that’s the best way to combat disinformation.

Paula Routly

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SPROUT IN BURLINGTON

WEED

PREZ FOR VERMONT

LAWSUIT IN RANDOLPH LOCKER ROOM SPAT

Home Construction Isn’t Keeping Pace With Need

Despite a surge of home building in Chittenden County, the area’s vacancy rate is still at a historic low, with a yearlong waiting list for the Champlain Housing Trust’s affordable apartments.

“We’ve built 4,000 homes in the last six years, and it’s not enough,” said Charlie Baker, the executive director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission.

Baker and Housing Trust CEO Michael Monte held an event in Burlington last Friday to draw attention to the situation.

When state lawmakers gather in January for the start of the legislative session, the advocates hope they’ll change land-use regulations to make it easier to build homes. And as the stream of federal COVID-19 emergency funding slows, Monte and Baker also want them to dig deep to support the construction of new affordable housing units.

A $37 million housing bond approved in 2017 helped create more than 850 homes and apartments around Vermont. Monte thinks it might be time for another bond or some other large infusion of cash, perhaps using some of the budget surplus generated by higher-thananticipated tax receipts in recent years.

This Old Homeowner

Stanley Kimball, 73, has lived in the same house in Bennington for 19 years. Since his daughter and granddaughter moved out about four years ago, Kimball has been maintaining the three-bedroom abode and the grounds on his own: He plows the snow, shampoos the rugs and mows the lawn. Kimball lamented that he recently spent two whole days raking leaves.

Tired of the chores, and worried about his mobility and safety in the house as he got older, he put the ranch-style home on the market three years ago. Within weeks, he had o ers. He signed a contract with a young couple who planned to bring horses to the property, which pleased Kimball. His daughter had kept horses there for years.

Finding a place to move, though, was a much bigger hurdle. Kimball said it was nearly impossible to find what he wanted:

a one-bedroom, single-level apartment in his price range.

“By the time you figure out what you’re paying, it’s way over your fixed income,” he explained. Much to Kimball’s disappointment, he had to break his contract with the young couple. He simply didn’t have anywhere to go.

Kimball’s situation illustrates a broader problem that is compounding the state’s housing crisis. Vermont’s senior population is growing rapidly; in another decade, one of every four Vermonters will be over 65. But aging homeowners are discovering it is very di cult to find housing that suits their needs, whether it’s an a ordable apartment without stairs or a spot in an assisted-living community. The resulting housing pileup a ects not only older Vermonters’ ability to age comfortably

but also younger residents who want to purchase first homes.

“I call it ‘gridlock,’” said Ben Durant, a senior real estate specialist who helps older Vermonters transition into senior communities.

“There’s this large block of people that don’t have anywhere to go, and we wonder why there’s not enough housing.”

“Folks are kind of frozen in place,” said Peter Tucker, the director of advocacy and public policy for the Vermont Association of Realtors. “Houses that might be appropriate for families are kept from coming on the marketplace.”

Older Vermonters overwhelmingly want to stay in their homes as long as they can safely do so, surveys show. But seniors

“It’s not about saying, ‘ e COVID money is done; here’s $10 million to create housing throughout the state of Vermont,’” Monte said. “ at’s not going to do it. We need more than that.”

Monte, Baker and the affordable housing developer Evernorth are part of Building Homes Together, a campaign that announced a goal last year of creating 5,000 new homes, with 1,250 permanently affordable, over five years. In 2021, 909 homes were completed in Chittenden County, the group said. About 150 of them are permanently affordable.

While they’re making progress, the development isn’t happening fast enough to keep up with the demand, the group said. e median home price in Burlington rose 19 percent year over year to $479,000 in September, according to realtor.com.

Champlain Housing Trust said the vacancy rate was just 0.4 percent in June; the Vermont Housing Finance Agency says a rate of 5 percent is considered healthy.

Monte and Baker want construction to increase regionally, not just in Chittenden County, and for more cities and towns to adopt inclusionary zoning policies, which require developers to include affordable units.

ey’d also like cities and towns to ease restrictions on building heights, density and parking. Williston, which recently approved zoning changes to allow taller buildings, is on the right track, Baker said.

Aging Vermonters who can’t find new housing are part of the state’s real estate “gridlock”

Waste Land

The paper, plastic, glass and metal that most Vermonters chuck into their blue bins gets trucked to a dark, windowless metal building in Williston, dumped on a concrete floor and fed into a dirty, dystopian Rube Goldberg-like machine.

Workers toil over speeding conveyor belts to pick through the endless stream of yogurt cups, soup cans and drink bottles. They identify and toss each type of material into a chute that carries it to the appropriate bunker below.

The contents are then pressed into huge cubes, bound with wire and shipped off to national and international markets to be recycled into new products.

The Chittenden Solid Waste District’s Materials Recovery Facility has been operating for nearly 30 years. Waste o cials say it’s well past time to build a new one.

“We are bursting at the seams,” said Jen Holliday, the district’s director of public policy and communications.

The 35,000-square-foot building, constructed in 1993, is operating at nearly double its design capacity, processing 47,000 tons of material per year in a space designed to handle 25,000 tons.

The facility is too small to accommodate the kind of cutting-edge sorting machines that would improve the amount and quality of resell-worthy material. There’s not enough space to store those items properly; some bales get stacked outside in the elements. And the cramped, loud, dark and dusty conditions make it hard to find workers who are willing to literally pick through people’s garbage, Holliday said.

So the district is asking Chittenden County voters for approval to borrow $22

million to build a new, state-of-the-art recycling facility on Redmond Road, two miles to the east.

In eco-conscious Vermont, which has one of the highest recycling rates in the nation, the question of whether to approve a tax-free proposal to expand a vital recycling facility’s capacity by 40 percent might seem likely to prompt an easy answer. But two factors make it far from certain that voters will green-light a plan to modernize the out-ofdate, inefficient recycling operation.

In 2018, the district got caught up in a glass-dumping scandal.

The case, which involved workers discarding ground-up glass that people assumed was being recycled, subjected the district to state sanction and withering public criticism. The matter was resolved in a $400,000 settlement two years ago.

Whether the public will support the district so soon after a highly public flogging is “an open question,” said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, the state’s largest environmental organization, which backs the measure.

The other question is if Chittenden County voters will bother weighing in, given that special election ballots — unlike the general election ones — will not be automatically mailed to them. Those voting by mail must contact their town clerk to get a ballot, though people who vote in person will receive one.

“I’m very concerned about the confusion issue,” Paul Ruess, chair of the district board, said in August.

“It’s a mess,” agreed board vice chair Alan Nye.

Salmon Take a Ride Upriver at the Winooski Dam

The sound of whirring machinery filled the air at the Winooski One Hydroelectric Plant on October 26. Slowly, a metal tank made its way up the side of the dam as a small crowd looked on excitedly.

At the top of the landing, an atten dant wearing a waterproof bib prepped a workstation for the container’s arrival, arranging chemicals and measuring equipment on a small makeshift table.

The precious cargo inside the tank? Landlocked Atlantic salmon.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department stock the fish in Lake Champlain to provide recreational fishing opportunities for anglers. Once plentiful, the native salmon population was wiped out by the early 1900s, but restocking efforts that began in the 1970s have led to a modest resurgence.

Since 1993, upstream-bound salmon have been lifted via fish elevator to the top of the Winooski One dam, transferred to a holding tank and driven 15 miles to an upstream release point in Richmond.

The six salmon trapped on October 26 were some of 121 collected at the Winooski dam so far this season, putting the program on track for “one of our best years yet,” said Lee Simard, fisheries biologist with the Fish & Wildlife Department.

Without a “trap-and-truck” opera tion in place, the fish would be unable to reproduce. The warm temperatures of the lower Winooski make it nearly impossible for salmon to spawn, and upstream migration to cooler water is blocked by three impassable dams, including the Winooski One.

The fish lift operates between September 15 and November 15 each year. At the base of the dam is a high-flow current, which attracts fish into a holding tank. A few times per day, the fish are lifted to the top of the dam, where they are tagged, measured and weighed by biologists before being driven to the release point.

While the salmon typically go upstream to spawn, they return to Lake Champlain in the spring. An already tagged fish back at the Winooski elevator was a sign of progress. Most of the salmon, though, don’t live past 3 years old.

Simard hopes this year’s salmon counts mark a noteworthy turn in the species’ future in Vermont.

“We’re bringing the salmon up the Winooski River to provide fishing opportunities,” he explained. “So I hope people go out and utilize that and catch some fish.” m

who wind up living alone often find it isolating and difficult. Some rely on house visits from caregivers, including deliv ery drivers who bring hot food through programs such as Meals on Wheels. Despite those services, maintaining health and home becomes more difficult and, in many cases, unsafe.

They might consider one of Vermont’s more than 100 senior-living communities, including independent- and assisted-living homes, though experts say the current stock of senior housing is not enough to meet the growing demand. New senior communities are not being built quickly enough to accom modate the state’s aging population, Tucker said.

That means seniors have to wait, often for years. Older Vermonters who qualify for a subsidized one-bedroom apartment through RuralEdge, an affordable nonprofit housing and community development corporation in the Northeast Kingdom, typically wait five years. Similarly, Cathedral Square — which owns and manages affordable housing for older adults in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties — has a waiting list of three to five years.

“I could build tomorrow what it has taken us 45 years to build and barely meet the need of what we’re seeing today on our wait list,” said Kim Fitzgerald, CEO of Cathedral Square.

At least 200 of the 1,000 people on the organization’s waiting list are homeowners in Chittenden County. If these people could get into new housing, Fitzgerald explained, they would “free up their single-family homes.”

Landing a spot at upscale Wake Robin in Shelburne, which charges $3,237 to $8,313 in monthly fees, can take two to three years. But more people are applying than ever before, said Meagan Buckley, director of health and resident services.

For those who would prefer to live in housing not designated for seniors, options are limited as well. Durant has found that single-level homes or units are difficult to find for his clients across the state. Conor O’Dea, director of the State Unit on Aging in the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, known as DAIL, said many of the rural seniors he works with express the same frustration.

“What we hear is, ‘Well, if I sold my home, where am I going to go?’” O’Dea explained.

Seniors also have an incentive to stay in their houses: Vermont’s homestead tax credit program, which grants property tax breaks to homeowners on a sliding scale based on yearly income. Those who receive the biggest credits are low-income homeowners, many of whom are seniors on fixed incomes, said Jake Feldman, senior

fiscal analyst for the Vermont Department of Taxes.

While Feldman clarified that it’s hard to draw an exact correlation between the prop erty tax program and the number of seniors who are choosing to age in place, he thinks a connection is being overlooked. “The reason that we have to spend so much on trying to create workforce housing is partly because we’re spending so much to keep people in their homes,” he said.

That’s not likely to change anytime soon. State Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), who is vice chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means,

for themselves properly due to physical or mental impairments. Nusbaum said he believes the state is ill-prepared to deal with the problem.

And if someone requires assisted living, the relocation costs skyrocket. Residents of assisted living communities in Vermont pay $4,500 on average per month for care and housing. Cathedral Square operates the only Medicaid-approved assisted living commu nity for seniors who require memory care. Fitzgerald said demand is through the roof. Meantime, the growing senior popula tion has helped shrink the average size of Vermont’s households to just 2.3 people — the third-lowest in the nation. Singleperson households in Vermont have grown five times as fast as in the rest of the country. Nearly four in 10 senior homeowners are living alone, a 2022 Vermont housing assess ment found.

told Seven Days that the legislature is not planning on reducing coverage of the property tax credit program. If anything, she said, lawmakers are considering education finance reform that would further benefit property owners.

The “gridlock” has serious consequences not just for young families but also for home bound seniors. They are tending to stay in bigger and older homes despite safety concerns.

“People are in homes that are less suited to their needs,” explained Joe Nusbaum, director of licensing and protection for DAIL. “It’s more and more common for people to be self-neglecting.” He was referring to some seniors’ inability to care

Experts across sectors agree that the best solution is to build more housing suitable for older Vermonters. That would require collaboration that focuses on affordability. O’Dea hopes that downtown revitalization and community zoning reform efforts across Vermont spur the growth of affordable housing suitable for older adults. Fitzgerald maintains that having a broad spectrum of options is important: independent housing, assisted living, residential care and nursing homes are all part of the equation.

Some new senior housing developments are coming online. Chestnut Place, a 99-unit boutique senior housing facility in Berlin, opened in April; Bayview Crossing, a 30-unit mixed-income community in South Hero, is slotted to open sometime this fall.

In Burlington, city councilors are betting on one creative solution — HomeShare Vermont, which matches seniors and others who have extra rooms with people looking for a place to live. The mutually benefi cial arrangements provide seniors with

HOMEOWNERS ARE DISCOVERING IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND HOUSING THAT SUITS THEIR NEEDS.

housemates who might agree to help with cooking or transportation; the renters get to share a comfortable home at a good rate.

In 2022, HomeShare matched 197 participants ranging in age from 22 to 98, most of whom were identified as lowincome. Last week, councilors approved a pilot program that provides stipends of $1,000 to 30 new HomeShare hosts who meet certain requirements.

Ray Tomlinson decided to sign up with HomeShare when he found himself strapped for cash and living alone after a divorce. In 2016, he started sharing his four-bedroom Essex Junction home with one other person, who lived there for more than a year. When the pandemic hit and Tomlinson decided to retire from his job as a bus driver, he took in two HomeShare tenants. So far, he said, it’s been going great.

Tomlinson, 75, said having housemates gives him some peace of mind when it comes to safety and enables him to keep living where he prefers. “I wouldn’t leave here unless they carried me out,” he said, laughing. “I bet there are other people who have lost a wife or husband and would enjoy having somebody else in the house.”

It’s not for everybody, though. In Bennington, Kimball has continued his yearslong search for an apartment so that he can downsize. The pandemic made look ing harder.

“I kind of get depressed along the way,” Kimball acknowledged. “I go online every morning to see what apartments are avail able and try to contact people.”

A few weeks ago, Kimball decided to buy enough heating oil to last him through another winter. He thinks he might pick up his housing search again in the spring. But for now, he’s staying put. m

Rachel Hellman covers Vermont’s small towns for Seven Days. She is a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Find out more at reportforamerica.org.

Seven Days is examining Vermont’s housing crisis — and what can be done about it — in our “Locked Out” series this year. Read all the stories and check out our Vermont Housing Resources Guide at sevendaysvt. com/locked-out. Send tips to lockedout@sevendaysvt.com.

These stories are supported by a grant from the nonprofit Journalism Funding Partners, which leverages philanthropy and fundraising to boost local reporting. For more information, contact Cathy Resmer at cathy@sevendaysvt.com or visit jfp-local.org.

Cannabis Shops Are Sprouting Like Weeds in Burlington

The Vermont Cannabis Control Board has granted three licenses to Burlington retailers and has applica tions for six more pending — a situation the board’s chair called “concerning” during a public meeting last week.

“Anyone who is thinking about getting a retail license should really consider what the population base is, what the customer base is and how they intend to compete with — if you’re thinking about Burlington — nine other locations that are kind of in a very small radius,” board chair James Pepper said.

In an interview after the meeting, Pepper said he worried that some of the Burlington shops won’t survive. Cannabis businesses don’t have Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections if they fail, since the industry is not legal in the eyes of the federal government.

“All these folks that are applying don’t have access to traditional sources of capital,” Pepper said. “And so a lot of these people are putting up their own money, their friends’ money, their family’s money. They’re doing whatever they can to scrape together enough money to open one of these places ... So the stakes are much higher in this industry than any other.”

Act 164, the 2020 law that legal ized retail cannabis sales in Vermont, did not include caps on license types, except for integrated licenses, which were available only to the three com panies that hold medical marijuana licenses. And the control board does not have the ability to reject appli cants based on the town they want to operate in, Pepper explained.

Rather, the board would need to close the application window for all retailers across the state, something it does not intend to do in the near future, Pepper said. But the board could do so at some point, Pepper said, noting that there are 79 statecontrolled liquor stores in Vermont.

“Is that the carrying capacity for these kind of ‘vice’ stores?” Pepper asked. “It’s hard for us to set an arbitrary cap. What do we base it on? How do we really know?”

As of October 18, the board had received 47 retail applications from across the state. Aside from Burlington, Pepper said, the distribu tion appeared “pretty decent.”

“I do want people to go into this clear-eyed and know what their compe tition is going to look like to the extent that we can provide that,” he said. m

EDUCATION Makeover Man

Not long after he took the top job at the newly created Vermont State University, Parwinder Grewal attended a five-day workshop at Harvard University for new college presidents.

Experienced higher ed leaders shared their insights with 58 first-year presidents like him throughout that summer week. All of them, Grewal said, had something to say about the task ahead at Vermont State University, which will launch in less than a year by combining three institutions in the Vermont State Colleges System.

While college mergers are common these days, Vermont’s is the first nation wide of an entire statewide colleges system, Grewal said, and the goal is lofty: to make every course as accessible in a rural corner as it is in a city. “They agreed that I have the toughest job in the country,” Grewal said of his peers.

Grewal’s job starts with the merger of Castleton University, Vermont Technical College and Northern Vermont University — itself the product of a merger between John son State and Lyndon State colleges in 2018.

By July 1, 2023, the Vermont State Colleges System will include the newly formed Vermont State University and the separate Community College of Vermont. Grewal will lead the university; Sophie Zdatny will stay on as chancellor of the overall system.

Combining the three schools, which have 5,500 students and a budget deficit of $20 million, is a big task. Among other things, Grewal is eliminating about onethird of the system’s administrative jobs, restructuring academic programming and selling off unused buildings.

The Community College of Vermont will remain freestanding, but it’ll share IT, human resources, financial offices and

workforce development programs with Vermont State University.

While Grewal says he doesn’t plan to eliminate any academic subjects, he does expect to reduce the number of individual programs from 250 to 100, and the number of deans from more than a dozen to just five. Meanwhile, he hopes to expand enrollment by more than 80 percent, to 10,000 — an ambitious goal at a time when the number of college-age people in Vermont is declining. To that end, the system announced in September that the schools will lower tuition by 15 percent for the 2023-24 academic year, to around $10,000 for Vermont residents — about half the sum it charges out-of-staters.

Managing the transformation is an ambitious task for Grewal, a lifelong academic who grew up in India and was educated there and in London.

Grewal is a scientist who completed his undergraduate studies and a master’s in agricultural sciences specializing in nematodes, microscopic creatures that are crucial to soil ecosystems. He continued his work on nematodes and plant pathology for his doctorate in zoology from Imperial College

London, and he gained distinction as a scientist in the years after, serving as president of the Society of Nematologists and racking up $20 million in research funding.

Grewal also served on Ohio State University’s faculty for 16 years; holds three patents, according to official bios; and has published 133 peer-reviewed scientific papers. His résumé reflects decades of work in topics such as slug control, lawn care, urban food systems and specialty crops.

His most significant achievement, he said, was leading a team of international scientists who first sequenced the genome of a parasitic nematode. He sees his time in the laboratory as proof that he can wrestle with the plus-size problems facing higher ed administration these days.

Grewal leads the state colleges that will soon become Vermont State University BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN • anne@sevendaysvt.com

“I want to work with people to come up with new solutions,” he said. “That’s who I am.”

Along with shepherding the merger successfully, Grewal’s mandate includes restoring the public’s trust. That took a dive after former Vermont State Colleges System chancellor Jeb Spaulding proposed

of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Vermont’s progressive history in areas such as gay rights.

“I also knew the state has been really underfunding higher education,” he said. “The state knows it, and the legislators know it, as well.”

For Grewal, who was the first in his family to attend college, making higher education affordable is a top priority — as is promoting Vermont State University to out-of-staters who can make up for the shortfall of in-state students. At the Texas school, he increased enrollment in online programs by 235 percent.

have serious concerns about the merger,” said Sammis, who works for his parents’ real estate company and is running for the Vermont House. “I envision a reduc tion in course diversity, a reduction in staff and a reduction of the organization’s representation.”

Grewal is not counting on state support to keep Vermont State University in the black. He wants to raise money in other ways, such as by offering customized train ing and professional certificate programs for local businesses.

EDUCATION

UVM Announces Tuition Freeze, Full Scholarships for Some Vermonters

closing the Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College campuses in 2020, setting off protests from students, alumni, faculty and state officials. Spauld ing resigned soon afterward.

Unpopular as it was, Spaulding’s proposal was not entirely unexpected, because the state colleges system has struggled financially for years. State Sen. Joe Benning (R-Caledonia), a Lyndon alumnus, said he remembers governor Dick Snelling talking about closing one of the state colleges in 1979.

Grewal is no stranger to institutional transformation. He said he honed those skills at his previous job, as the founding dean of the College of Sciences at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, created through the merger of three institutions with many campuses.

“I want to be challenged, always,” Grewal said in an interview in mid-September at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, where he has an office.

Megan Cluver, a member of the system’s board who served on the presidential search committee, noted that Grewal has the personality to work with the large cast of characters whose cooperation will be essential. Grewal comes across as relaxed and informal. He and his wife occupy the president’s residence on campus.

When he was on the faculty at Ohio State, Cluver said, he used to invite students to his family home for board games. When he can, she added, he goes out of his way to meet with students, faculty and administrators in person, not by video.

“He’s been spending time on each of the campuses, and that is his priority,” she said. Many of his colleagues refer to him by his first name.

This fall, Grewal is getting to know Vermont, a place to which he didn’t pay much attention until he learned of the job opening. Prior to that, he said, he knew

Chris Reilly, an engineering professor at Vermont Technical College, said Grewal has solicited faculty input on combining the classes taught on individual campuses so they can be offered system-wide.

“He seems comfortable with us; he listens to what we’re saying, and he’s taking notes,” said Reilly, who is president of the state colleges’ faculty union. “He seems to be a very reasonable person.”

Vermont, which has lost four small, private colleges in the past few years, is not the only state taking big steps to shore up flagging state institutions. More American colleges have been shuttered since 2012 than during the previous 40 years combined, according to University Business, a higher ed publication. On aver age, 100 institutions vanished as a result of mergers or closures each year between 2015 and 2020, it reported.

With a dropping birth rate and one of the oldest populations in the country, Vermont doesn’t have the college-age students to support the state colleges system as it was designed. Higher ed, espe cially in rural areas, faces very real threats.

“A fair number of institutions are sitting on the precipice,” Cluver said.

But Grewal has arrived at a time when public support for the state colleges system is high. Finding and training work ers has become a critical need in Vermont’s economy, and the state colleges system has produced thousands of skilled ones over the years.

After Spaulding brought up the specter of closure, Vermont lawmakers raised the annual state appropriation to the state colleges system from $30 million in 2021 to $45 million this year. The state colleges are also benefiting from other one-time federal and legislative spending.

But financial security is a long way off. Meanwhile, there’s still anxiety that the contraction ahead will pit one campus against another. Now that individual presidents’ jobs have been eliminated, each campus will have less of a voice in its own future, said Castleton alum Jarrod Sammis.

“[Grewal] seems like a nice guy, but I

He’s also looking for ways to keep gradu ates from moving elsewhere, a perennial problem in the state. He plans to introduce a “micro-credential” to regular diploma requirements so that students learn prac tical skills such as Microsoft Excel or data analysis, or study entrepreneurship along with their core studies.

“Imagine an engineering student being empowered to develop a business from their idea,” he said. “It will provide them the opportunity and support to develop their own small business right here in Vermont.”

The system plans to reduce campus square footage by 25 percent. The campuses in Castleton and Williston don’t have enough room as it is, so they won’t shrink; the Lyndon, Randolph and Johnson campuses have more space than they need, so buildings are going on the market. Benning, who is running for lieu tenant governor, thinks it makes sense to sell off unused buildings. He’d also like to see better marketing to appeal to out-ofstate students.

“It requires master salespeople to sell these institutions in places where there is still population,” Benning said. “I have always felt salesmanship is one compo nent that could use some beefing up.”

Grewal agreed, saying he expects advertising to help him reach his enroll ment goals. He sees the system as a busi ness and the streamlining this year as essential to its survival — including the job cuts under way now.

“There is no secret about it; everybody knows it,” Grewal said. “There will be one university with one president.” He said no faculty members will lose their jobs.

“If anything, we plan to increase the number of faculty in certain critical work force-related programs,” such as nursing, engineering and criminal justice, he said.

As the state colleges eliminate about 20 executive and dean positions, some administrators have already been shown the door. Others have been offered posi tions with the new institution, and the university is also hiring from out of state for some of its top jobs. Grewal expects a significant savings in salaries.

“Next year, we will have far fewer managers at this university,” he said. m

Vermont students from households that earn up to $60,000 a year will soon be eligible for free tuition to the University of Vermont for all four undergraduate years, beginning with next fall’s firstyear class.

UVM president Suresh Garimella announced the scholarship program, called UVM Promise, following a meeting of the university’s trustees last Friday. UVM Promise would cover the cost of tuition and the university’s comprehensive fee for qualifying in-state students, according to UVM spokesperson Enrique Corredera. Families would still be responsible for the roughly $13,000 annual room and board fee.

The initiative earned a nod of ap proval from Gov. Phil Scott, who praised UVM’s efforts to make higher education more affordable for Vermonters. “The UVM Promise is a welcome addition to the university’s investments in Vermont’s future,” Scott said in a press release. Vermont’s median household income is about $63,500, according to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

At last Friday’s meeting, UVM trustees also approved a tuition freeze for the fifth consecutive year.

“Most families are struggling with inflation in today’s economy,” Garimella said in a press release. “UVM will not add to their challenges. It is more important than ever that we do all we can to help students and families afford a high-quality UVM education, and to keep our university accessible, affordable, and competitive.”

UVM has not increased tuition since Garimella became president in 2019. Prior to his tenure, tuition rose, on average, by 3 percent a year.

The extended tuition freeze notwithstanding, UVM remains one of the most expensive public higher ed institutions in the country. A 2021 U.S. News & World Report survey ranked UVM the seventh-priciest public univer sity for in-state students, with tuition, fees, and room and board totaling over $32,000 for the 2022-23 academic year. The current cost of attendance for out-of-state students is roughly $57,000 a year. m

WANT TO WORK WITH

COME

WITH NEW SOLUTIONS.

WHO I AM.

The ballot mess is nothing compared to what lies at the end of Avenue C in Willis ton, however.

The current sorting facility, near Indus trial Avenue just east of the airport, is a chaotic and downright dangerous place. Although the building is owned by the solid waste district, it is operated under a contract with Casella Waste Systems, the region’s dominant waste hauler.

Seconds into a recent tour of the aging facility, a series of explosive sounds erupted from the concrete pad where trucks tip their loads. A bucket loader scooping recyclable material onto a conveyor belt had driven over bottles that had tumbled out of a truck from Hyde Park. The sealed bottles popped under the machine’s massive wheels, setting off what sounded like cannon fire and adding to the din.

Nearby bales stacked atop one another created a makeshift retaining wall to keep the mountain of material from spilling onto other work areas.

And broken glass rained down from the sorting machines, pelting surprised visitors, littering the staircases and floors, and crunching underfoot as Led Zeppelin wailed from speakers overhead.

“This is not the way to do it,” Holliday said, referring to the facility’s inefficient glass-recycling operation.

The new Materials Recovery Facility would bring the glass-grinding process fully indoors from the weather. It would also expand storage so that material could be kept dry and managed more efficiently, she said. The larger facility, at about 65,000 square feet, would also dramati cally improve the district’s ability to auto mate the sorting process, Holliday said.

Optical sorting technology would allow a combination of infrared sensors and cameras to quickly identify the types of material racing down the conveyor belt, she explained. Precisely timed puffs of air would then send specific products — like office paper — sailing into separate bins.

The ability to separate types and even colors of paper can significantly increase the quality and value of the bales the district creates and sells, she said. Demand for qual ity recycled paper and cardboard is particu larly high right now, as people continue to purchase more products online.

By comparison, she pointed to two huge chutes out of which shot all manner of paper packaging, junk mail, newsprint and cardboard into a single heap on the concrete floor.

“Right now, it’s all mechanical, and you get what you get,” she said.

For optical scanners to work properly, material must be spread in a thin layer.

That requires more space, something that is currently in short supply.

“If we could have put an optical sorting line in, we would have done it years ago,” Holliday said. “We can’t.”

The new equipment the district has chosen, from a supplier in Norwalk, Conn., called Van Dyk Recycling Solutions, would include seven optical scanners.

Another high-tech device that would be integrated into a new building is an eddy current separator, which uses powerful magnets to quickly separate ferrous metals, such as stainless steel, from nonferrous metals, such as aluminum.

While that may sound futuristic, it’s really not, Michele Morris, the district’s

price tag has increased; the projected cost of construction has soared.

What was originally estimated to cost $12 million to $15 million has risen to $26 million. The district needs voter approval because it plans to borrow $22 million of that, along with $3.5 million from reserves. The hope is that grant funding can make up the balance.

Voters in Chittenden County tend to support expansion of recycling efforts, but the lingering memory of the glass-dumping case may give some pause. District officials damaged their credibility not just by the way they disposed of the ground glass but also by failing to admit fault for skirt ing environmental regulations, Burns of VPIRG said.

general required the district to pay a $78,000 penalty, fork over nearly $180,000 more to the state and spend $220,000 on environmental projects intended to benefit the public.

The settlement did not require the district to admit wrongdoing, however.

After examining the proposal in detail, however, VPIRG has encouraged its members to vote yes despite the district’s past transgressions.

“I do believe they have a legitimate case that newer, better technology could improve the future facility and therefore the products that are coming out of it can be put to a higher and better use and have a greater value,” Burns said.

The organization had voiced concern that once the district got approval for a new facility, it would oppose a future expansion of the state’s separate — and, in some ways, competing — bottle redemp tion program, where beverage containers are returned for a deposit. VPIRG hopes the program can be broadened to include more types of containers, such as glass wine bottles and plastic water bottles, and wanted assurances that diverting more of those containers from the facility wouldn’t harm its long-term viability, Burns said.

Waste officials say they now support expansion of the bottle bill because it would remove more glass from the recycling stream.

Their next challenge: getting out the vote despite the mail-in ballot issue.

ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

director of communications, told the board in September.

“These two features are standard tech nology in any 21st-century [recycling facil ity],” she told the board. “They are not far out on the bleeding edge.”

The upgrade would add a second baler, which she called “the heartbeat of the facil ity.” It currently has only one.

“If that goes down, we’re dead in the water,” Morris said.

The increased automation is expected to improve the amount and quality of the bales produced by the new facility, but it would not reduce the need for the roughly 21 workers there, and no jobs would be lost, officials said. The district has considered operating the new facility itself, instead of contracting with Casella, but no decision has been made, Holliday said.

The district generates revenue from disposal fees and material sales, which would help pay for the bond. But in the time it has been planning the new facility, the

“It is difficult to regain full credibility without ever admitting the wrong and without taking responsibility,” he said.

Unlike glass beverage bottles that are returned for their 5-cent deposit and recy cled separately, the glass that people throw into blue bins, such as spaghetti sauce jars, is of lower quality because it often has food stuck to it.

The district used 2,186 tons of such glass “to repair a depression in the closed landfill” in 2013, according to its settlement with the state Agency of Natural Resources, which investigated the case.

It dumped another 15,029 tons of glass over an embankment at the end of Redmond Road between 2016 and 2018. And it spread 734 tons as a subbase at the district’s Green Mountain Compost operation.

The district did all of this without permits. It claimed it did not need permis sion, but state regulators ruled that it did.

The settlement with the attorney

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, lawmakers voted to mail all active registered voters a general election ballot. Last year, citing the sharp increase in voter participation, they made the practice permanent. But it turns out that solid waste districts are not on the list of municipalities that are allowed to mail ballots to voters.

“I was stunned when I heard that from the staff at the Secretary of State’s Office,” Holliday said.

As a result, neither the state nor the district sent Chittenden County voters a ballot on the bond issue. Voters must call their town clerk to ask for the ballot, request one from the My Voter Page on the secretary of state’s website or vote in person on November 8.

The conundrum has forced the district to work harder to boost participation. It has sent out mailers and given countless presentations to selectboards, rotary clubs, senior centers and other groups, hoping to make its case for the need for a new facility.

“We’re doing our best to educate people,” Holliday said.

As of last week, just 1,058 Burlington voters had requested the special ballots, out of 22,853 active registered voters. That’s less than 5 percent. m

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Florence Miles

OCTOBER 4, 1922OCTOBER 24, 2022 HUNTINGTON, VT.

Florence Sophia Miles celebrated her 100th birthday on October 4, 2022, outdoors at the Sterling House in Richmond. She was able to say her final goodbyes to her intimate family and to her numerous friends. e next 20 days were a process of letting go of the life that she led.

Florence was born on a farm in Cross Plains, Wis., to the German farmers Agnes Virnig and Otto Schulenberg. Her life was hard and challenging from the beginning. Tongue-tied for six years since birth, Florence had an aunt who finally took it into her own hands to release her from a communication bondage. Florence learned to talk and, throughout her life, pronounced words in an endearing way.

She had little schooling, not going much beyond the sixth grade. She fondly remembers riding five or six miles on a horse with her brothers, sometimes racing to get to the school. When they could use the open car and pile in the rumble seats for the long ride to school, it was a treat. School was not an everyday affair, as she was kept home frequently to do the women’s work on the farm from an early age. Florence did it all. She helped prepare and cook the food, kept the fires, and did the laundry work. She worked the gardens and helped deliver her mother’s babies. Her beloved mother’s last baby resulted in the death of both. Florence carried that day throughout her life.

During World War II, she took a job in the Ray o Vac factory, making vehicle and communication batteries for the war effort. She received

performance award ribbons and citations for her work, and, even in her nineties, she could demonstrate with her quick hands how to put a battery together. It must have helped her in her later life, when she was always playing with a large spread of bingo cards — she was known to be quite successful in her winnings.

She also worked in the café as a short-order cook and waitress. It was frequented by soldiers training for the war, and, one day, Frank Miles of Huntington walked in and asked her for a date. ey married on October 14, 1944.

ey had only had a few days together when Frank was ordered in the middle of the night by the military police

to report for a ship bound to Europe. When Frank left, Florence‘s father demanded that she quit her job and come back to the farm to work.

When the war ended, Frank went back to Wisconsin to convince Florence to move to Vermont, where they bought a farm outside Huntington Center and became dairy farmers for the next 38 years. Frank, a woodcutter, was new to farming. is phase of life wasn’t easy on Florence. Being of German descent, she encountered pushback from veterans and townspeople ripped apart by the war. Germans were not popular in postwar America. Florence buried her pain and buried herself in the running

of their new farm. By the early ’70s, their herd sported the highest herd average in Chittenden County — quite an honor for a Vermont hill farm.

Florence loved the farm animals. ey started with workhorses to work the land and built up their herd to 33 milkers with the accompanying young heifers that replaced the tired milkers. Frank and his son John did the fieldwork, but it was Florence who kept the farm working and functioning. Florence did it all, rarely missing a day of milking. Having two young children in the early days of the farm was no problem. She put them on a sled or wagon and placed them in apple boxes to keep them close while she milked. When they were older, of course, they pitched in.

An average day for Florence started at 4 a.m. Always first awake, she’d wake up the boys, walk to the barn and call for the cows. Some mornings you could hear the echo of her voice across the hills. She’d drive them across the road and into the barn. With three milking machines, she went down the line and attended each cow. She would drag the milk pails out to the center aisle and often carried 30 or 40 pounds to the milk house to dump it. After milking, she ran to the house and cooked breakfast. She did cleanup, as Frank directed field chores at 9 a.m. She did the barn chores and fed the animals. She would let them eat and then turn them out to the pasture. She would then go back to the house to cook lunch.

Lunch was always big. Florence made sure everyone ate, even if five or six people from the town showed up unannounced. If you showed up to work, you always had lunch or supper. You might not get paid, but you didn’t go home

hungry. Florence would clean up, maybe tend to her bees or the blackberries before starting her afternoon barn chores at 4 p.m., and finish up milking at 6 p.m. She then would run up to the house and have another big meal for supper all ready to go.

Florence could put together anything in a matter of minutes; there could be eight types of meat on the table at once and always a large chicken meal on a Sunday noon. Potatoes were planted and stored throughout the year. She’d peel them all. After supper, she’d clean up and then, at 9 p.m., she’d walk to the barn to talk to her cows and poke up the hay once more. Sometimes she didn’t go to bed right off, and you would find her, flashlight in hand, picking up night crawlers so the boys could fish the next day.

Whenever Florence took a vacation, the farm barely functioned. Milking was chaos, and meals were unimaginative. Frank would lament that the ‘’Old Lady’’ was still a few days from getting home. She called him “Old Man.”

It wasn’t easy living with a World War II vet. Florence worked harder than the average person, and she often lacked social stimulation. In some ways, she was isolated between Camel’s Hump and the surrounding hills. She could stuff her feelings and participate in small-town gossip and verbally fight back like a wildcat, but beyond the farm, her life was limited. She was loving and selfless and did what she could to navigate the ups and downs of her life. If Frank had his beer hidden in the maple trees, Florence had her blackberry brandy hidden in the back room.

At times over the years, she suffered in silence and endured what she called her

“women’s troubles,” along with other physical ailments. She ended up in the hospital a few times and literally cheated death more than once to make it to 100 years. She lost her teeth from a cow foot. She was knocked down and kicked by cows. She had barn roofs fly away over her head during storms. Lightning drove her to the barn floor more than once. Mean bulls chased her into trees. At 97, she was still using her four-wheeler to patrol the farm, but the keys were taken away from her when she was found tangled up in a horse fence. Despite all this, she loved her bees, loved her maple trees and loved her cows. She never had a cross word for them.

If there was one thing that stood out in Florence’s life, it was her dexterous hands. She was adept in butchering deer, bear, all types of wild game, beef and chicken. Her knives stayed with her throughout her life. ey had been sharpened so much that very little remains of the blades today. e sheer weight that shifted through her hands over the 100 years is phenomenal. Her hands held her world and defined who she was. Her amethyst rosary stayed with her throughout her life and remained in her hands in death.

is is the Huntington River Valley. It was her home. She never bragged and never talked about herself unless asked. What she accomplished was without fanfare. She has disappeared like the morning mist hovering over the river. Her voice can still be heard echoing between Camel’s Hump and the surrounding hills.

“Co boss ... Co boss ... Co bossy ... Come on home.’’ Florence was buried in Huntington Cemetery on October 31, 2022.

Claire L’Ecuyer

SEPTEMBER 27, 1927OCTOBER 27, 2022 WINOOSKI, VT.

Claire Giselle (DeVarney) L’Ecuyer died on October 27, 2022. She was the fourth of 10 children born to Edward Anthony and Hermine Marie (Matte) DeVarney. She at tended St. Louis Convent in Winooski and was in the first class to graduate from St. Francis Xavier School in Winooski. She attended Cathedral High School in Burlington and graduated in 1946.

She married Bernard JeanVianney L’Ecuyer in 1954 and moved into their newly built home in Winooski, which she helped build. She became a housewife and a favorite aunt to many of her nieces and nephews. She also was a second mother to her brother, Tom.

She was predeceased by her parents, husband, and eight of her siblings and their spouses. They were Anita (John L. White), Donald (Marion Giroux), Reginald (Kathryn Gutchell), Geraldine (Dennis Scanlon), Guy (Jean Cauchon), Robert, Yvette (Peter McDonald) and Bernard (Phyllis Courcy). She is survived by her brother, Thomas, and a mul titude of nieces and nephews. A very special thanks to Christopher Scanlon, Pamela Scanlon, Jenifer Murray, Lisa Smith and Thomas DeVareney. Thanks also to the caregivers and staff from McClure Miller Respite House. Family will gather at LaVigne Funeral Home on Monday, November 7, at 9:30 a.m. A mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winooski, with burial in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Francis Xavier School or to a charity of your choice.

Elinor “Ellie” Morency

DECEMBER 13, 1939OCTOBER 27, 2022 WILLISTON, VT.

Elinor “Ellie” Morency, artist, retired art teacher, and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, died peacefully on October 27 at home in Williston, Vt., with her loving family by her side. Born in Worcester, Mass., to the late Elinor “Nellie” and Thomas Bowes, Ellie grew up in Salem, Mass., where she first met her future hus band and the love of her life, Dave, while in elementary school. They would reconnect years later — in 1961 —and marry in 1962.

Ellie attended Emmanuel College on a full scholarship and studied English and minored in French and German. While not part of her formal education, painting had been a passion for Ellie since childhood, and she studied privately with sev eral painters in South Carolina, Virginia and Ohio. In the early ’70s, when she settled in Vermont with Dave and her four children, Ellie returned to school full time to study art education at the University of Vermont and earned her teaching certificate in 1978.

She began teaching art that year, first in Shelburne and then in St. Albans, before taking up a post in 1983 at Founders Memorial School in Essex, where she stayed until her retirement in 2001. She was a dynamic and passionate teacher who reached beyond the ordinary to inspire

and educate her students. In 1999, she was presented with the Vermont Art Educators Award by the National Art Education Association, having been nomi nated by several colleagues and her principal for her dedication, professionalism and masterful teaching style.

Ellie continued to paint into retirement and was a member of a painting group made up of much-loved friends, the Monet Mamas, who met every week for many years. Ellie was also an avid reader — she loved mystery novels in particular — and had a passion for the arts in all forms, including music and dancing.

She was a devoted, kind and energetic mother, offering endless love and support while skillfully balancing work and home life. Her creativity, warmth and sense of humor infused her parenting (and grandparenting) and made for a home filled with laughter, song and copious craft ing projects.

Ellie was predeceased by her husband, Dave, in 2015, and missed him every day. She is survived by her son David and his wife, Tracy Drake, and their son, Eamon, of Burlington; son Steve of Williston; daughter Elise Minadeo and her husband, John, and their children, Nick, Marisa and Dominic of Essex; daughter Anne and her hus band, Dave Mulleady, of County Longford, Ireland; sister-in-law, Sylvia Wahl, and her husband, Ted; brother-in-law, Joseph Morency, and his wife, Pauline; cousin, Joan White; and several nieces and nephews whom she loved and adored. She was predeceased by siblings Thomas Bowes, Patricia Raynes, Robert Bowes and Linda Aucone, whom she missed greatly.

The family would like to thank Dr. Cheung Wong and Kim Spina, RN, at the University of Vermont Medical Center; Nancy Carlson and Lisy McIntee from Home Health & Hospice; Dr. Caitlin Baran and the “jolly good” fellow Dr. Gervais for their compassion and care.

A remembrance of Ellie’s life will be held at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farms Rd., Shelburne on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please con sider a donation to the American Cancer Society or to your favorite charity.

To view a complete obituary, please visit gregorycremation. com.

Laurel Hammond

FEBRUARY 20, 1950OCTOBER 24, 2022 BURLINGTON, VT.

Our mom, Laurel Hammond, died last week at 72 years of age. Over the course of 12 years, she fought three brave battles with breast cancer but ultimately succumbed. After several days surrounded by loving friends and family and the wonderful nurses and volunteers at the McClure Miller Respite House, she was finally able to let go and find peace.

The best mother and friend any of us could ask for, she lived surrounded by the community she created. Laurel grew up on a farm in the Northeast Kingdom and never lost touch with her upbringing. She graduated from Lyndon State College with a bachelor of science degree in 1977 and from the University of Vermont with a master’s

degree in education. She was a teacher and guidance coun selor in Vermont schools in Richmond, Jay, Westford, St. Albans and Underhill. Later, she worked at the Bryan Memorial Art Gallery in Jeffersonville and the Montstream Studio in Burlington.

Laurel loved the simple things in life, like the sound her MacBook made when it emptied

the trash. But she also had a taste for fine art, gluten-free food, down jackets and the warm company of others. She loved spending time outdoors. She was an avid hiker and cyclist and was always eager to get out on her cross-country skis in the winter.

Laurel is survived by her son, Colin; daughter-in-law, Annie; daughter, Olivia; former spouse, Neal; rascal-of-a-cat, Izzy; sib lings, Lynne, Leonard, Leslie and Charlie; and a plethora of cous ins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Lyle, and mother, Lois. We are all saddened by the immense loss but will try to live our lives in her memory by taking quiet walks in the woods and enjoying the sunsets over Lake Champlain. A celebration of Laurel’s life will be held at noon on November 19, 2022, at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. We love you, forever and always.

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SUPPORTING SIEGEL

Kudos on your article about Brenda Siegel

[“Underdog’s Appeal: Activist Democrat Brenda Siegel Brings the Experience of Poverty to Her Campaign for Governor,” September 14]. It does an excellent job of capturing the empathy that is authenti cally present in Brenda’s work and in her candidacy.

It was Brenda, after all, who spent 27 days and nights on the Statehouse steps last October, having vowed not to leave until the emergency housing program for those experiencing homelessness was fully reinstated. Housing all Vermonters, healing the overdose crisis, commitment to bold climate action, building a bottomup economy: These are Brenda’s priorities, backed by specific plans outlined on her website and articulated in detail during the gubernatorial debates.

Brenda is a powerful thinker, a passion ate voice. She is not pie in the sky. She is thoroughly grounded and not a bit afraid of delivering no-nonsense challenges to the current administration’s approach to issues and sharp critiques of its record. She is equally clear in demonstrating what she offers instead.

Brenda has earned the endorsement of former governor Howard Dean, as well as the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Peter Welch and the Democratic leadership of both the Vermont House and Senate. I am voting for Brenda Siegel. I hope that other Seven Days readers will also.

Townsend represents South Burlington in the Vermont House.

MORE DEMS, PLEASE

[“Right Flank,” October 12], describing the campaign of Gerald Malloy for U.S. Senate, reminds me that if all Democrats vote, and vote for the Democrat or Progressive candidate, then the state, and the country, should survive the Republican assault on the U.S. democracy, individual rights and common decency. By the way, Vermont does not need a Republican governor, and the national governor tally sheet needs more Democrats.

became pregnant? Could she have an abor tion without your knowledge? According to this proposal, she would have full rights to have an abortion without the parents’ knowledge. That’s a big decision for a little girl to make on her own. What if she took the RU-486 pill and started hemorrhag ing at home? As her parent, you might not even know.

Or could this proposal give pedophiles legal access to our children if a “relation ship” began? And, after such interaction, prohibit us, their parents, from protecting them?

At what age does this Reproductive Liberty Amendment begin?

Is a 5-year-old little knobby-kneed child, who is not yet able to read, able to determine that they want to begin to take hormonal therapies that will affect them dramatically? Isn’t that personal repro ductive autonomy? Are these therapies effective? Are people happier and better adjusted? Or are the suicide rates higher for this group?

Are schools required to inform parents of observations in the school regarding their child’s gender identity? My under standing is, if this resolution passed, the schools would not be telling the parents, because it is once again personal repro ductive autonomy. Meaning that if a young child preferred different pronouns at school, the schools would not be advising the parents.

From my perspective, no one loves a child like their parents or guardians. Why would we ever remove the parents from any and all decisions when a child is underage?

I vote no!

DON’T BELIEVE THE PROPAGANDA

bodies without political interference. Please vote yes on Prop 5.

SURROUNDED?

A good example of our polarized nation — and here in Vermont, unfortunately.

nation an even better place. Please join me in voting yes on Proposal 5.

PROP 5 TOO VAGUE

Neither the proponents nor the opponents of Article 22 quoted in [“Lasting Changes: Revisions to Vermont’s Constitution — Dealing With Slavery and Abortion — Are on the Ballot This Fall,” 2022 Election Guide, September 28] seem to be aware that it has problems that go beyond abor tion rights. As noted by the opponents, the law uses the phrase “reproductive liberty” instead of “abortion.” But the law would also give the government the power to infringe that liberty if there was a “compel ling State interest.” This “gotcha” would give the state the ability to implement control over “reproductive liberty” that goes far beyond abortion.

‘I VOTE NO’

[Re “Lasting Changes: Revisions to Vermont’s Constitution — Dealing With Slavery and Abortion — Are on the Ballot This Fall,” 2022 Election Guide, September 28; Feedback: “Choice Words,” October 12]: What if your 11-year-old daughter

[Re “Lasting Changes: Revisions to Vermont’s Constitution — Dealing With Slavery and Abortion — Are on the Ballot This Fall,” 2022 Election Guide , Septem ber 28; Feedback: “Choice Words,” Octo ber 12]: I’m writing to reassure those who may have believed the dreadful propaganda warning that the adoption of Proposal 5, the Reproductive Liberty Amendment, would legalize abortion up to the moment of birth. No such thing is possible. Infanticide is a crime; that cannot change. Nor would the amend ment make it possible for a man to force a woman to carry and give birth to his child as his own reproductive right — quite the contrary. It would codify the right of everyone to make their own choices as to what goes on in their own

VERMONT TO MAKE HISTORY

[Re “Lasting Changes: Revisions to Vermont’s Constitution — Dealing With Slavery and Abortion — Are on the Ballot This Fall,” 2022 Election Guide, September 28; Feedback: “Choice Words,” October 12]: It is high time that we enshrine repro ductive choice into our constitution. I am by no means surprised that, at a time when other states are looking to end choice and privacy, Vermonters are stepping up to set an example to the nation on how to really care for one another!

It is somewhat surprising, though, to see such a vitriolic campaign against Article 22, when the language and intent of the initiative have overwhelming support from Vermonters. The many attacks by the opposition tend toward fear tactics and away from facts, and Vermonters are seeing right through that.

It is up to a pregnant person and, if they so choose and if applicable, their doctor, to make the decision that makes the most sense for them. When serious medical complications arise during pregnancy, doctors need to be able to use the full range of treatment options, including abortion if that’s the best course.

This amendment would ensure that patients and their doctors, not politicians, would make health care decisions. I am proud of Vermonters, the work that has been done, and the votes that people have made and plan to make on November 8. We are going to make history, and we are going to take a step forward in making this

For example, the state could decide in the future that, due to a climate or popu lation crisis, couples would no longer be allowed to have more than one child. Or the state could implement a social credit score that could be used to determine whether couples would be allowed to have children at all.

These scenarios may seem farfetched, but similar systems have been implemented in China. We should also remember that, in the early 20th century, eugenicists recommended similar restrictions.

In short, Article 22 is so vague that it enables the exact opposite of the “repro ductive liberty” that it supposedly safe guards, and it should be rejected on this basis.

VOTE YES ON PROP 5

[Re “Lasting Changes: Revisions to Vermont’s Constitution — Dealing With Slavery and Abortion — Are on the Ballot This Fall,” 2022 Election Guide, September 28; Feedback: “Choice Words,” October 12]: The League of Women Voters of Vermont, partner of the Vermont for Reproductive Liberty Ballot Committee, strongly supports the passage of Article 22 (Proposal 5), guaranteeing reproductive autonomy to Vermonters.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is having devastat ing impacts on people who may become pregnant. This precedent poses a threat to the future protection of civil liberties of all Americans. In its 1973 decision Roe v. Wade , the Supreme Court ruled that an individual’s right to make their own

reproductive choices without government interference was protected under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. With Roe overturned, states are already stripping more than 36 million women of reproductive age of the right to make decisions about their own bodies, leaving millions entirely without access to safe and legal abortion.

Fundamentally, health care should not be a controversial topic. As a basic premise, health care is the organized delivery of medical care to individuals or a community.

In 2019, Vermont passed comprehen sive abortion rights legislation, protecting abortion as a fundamental right and ensur ing choices for Vermonters.

MEDICAL CARE IS PERSONAL

[Re “Lasting Changes: Revisions to Vermont’s Constitution — Dealing With Slavery and Abortion — Are on the Ballot This Fall,” 2022 Election Guide , Septem ber 28; Feedback: “Choice Words,” Octo ber 12]: Do you know anyone who has had a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy?

How about premature labor, premature rupture of membranes, a stillborn, infer tility? Is it your view that, in these cases or any other complications of pregnancy, this person’s medical options should be decided by their state legislature or a federal court?

Or think of it this way: If you or a loved one were faced with a need for medical care, should you or they have to wait until

NEW BLOOD IN D.C. [Re “Right Flank,” October 12]: Americans believe that our government in Wash ington, D.C., is a big mess. Our long-term representatives have all contributed to that mess in some fashion. We must change that. Most states, including Vermont, believe that the mess was not created by their reps but by the reps from all the other states. As stated above, that is not correct; ours have helped. Vermont should set the direction for the country by changing our reps and sending all new people to Washington, starting with the election this fall, especially those who believe in term limits.

make decisions about their own futures; and the antis ignore the science of how pregnancy works, how it can go south, and what it does to a person’s physical and mental well-being and financial future.

2) “Concern for women and children.” Banning abortion does not stop abortion; it just kills more women. Real compassion is supporting family planning, education, safe and legal abortion, and families living in poverty. We all want there to be hardly any need for abortion.

3) “Abortion is already legal in Vermont.” Only as a law and not as a constitutional right. If Proposal 22 did not pass, the anti-choice movement would continue the momentum seen around the rest of the country to take that law away.

Vote yes on Article 22/Proposal 5.

VOTING BLUE

[Re 2022 Election Guide, September 28]: Whichever political party is in power at any given time, I hope we can all agree that we want those in power to protect and support our country and our families. Both parties have done things to enhance those things. Both parties are guilty of mistakes and corruption that endanger them. There’s plenty of blame and praise to spread around.

But what about us ? Democracy is a government of the people, by the people. We are the ultimate authority. The buck stops with us. What are our responsibilities?

However, in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision, the question becomes whether a future Vermont court might overturn our existing laws, elimi nating our right to decide. Proposal 5, as a constitutional amendment, would uphold the right to abortion and contraception.

By voting yes on Prop 5, we, the people, can prevent politicians and others from dictating the most personal of our deci sions and can strengthen our abilities to maintain our privacy and reproductive rights.

their condition became life-threatening before their doctors could perform a safe and effective medical intervention to avert such a disaster?

Make no mistake about it: This is what is at stake with the Vermont Reproductive Liberty Amendment, known as Article 22 or Proposal 5. Decisions about your life and health belong to you, not to the courts or state legislatures.

IN DEFENSE OF ABORTION

I am compelled to respond to the antichoice letters to the editor [Feedback: “Choice Words,” October 12] that have appeared in Seven Days:

1) “Abortion will be allowed up to the moment of birth.” This statement is fiction. There is no doctor in Vermont who would perform elective abortion at some madeup and unknowable moment directly before birth. You might as well say this law also allows for Martian abduction. It tells me two things about the “anti” movement: They don’t believe women have the intel ligence to understand their own bodies or

Vote! Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, but rules change, and there is a lot of inaccurate information about how to vote. Reliably check your registration here: voterparticipation.org/my-voter-info. Research before you vote! I support leaders who want to make things better for my family. So, who voted for the Inflation Reduction Act? See “Legislative history” in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduc tion_Act_of_2022. In both the House and the Senate, every Democrat voted for it, and every Republican voted against it.

Vote for priorities that help our fami lies! This November 8, we want to vote for leaders who will address big problems. So, why so much focus on attacking LGBTQ people, banning books and restricting health care?

I’m voting blue. How about you?

WARNING SHOTS

Burlington’s immigrant community seeks solutions to the gun violence that is claiming youths

In summer 2003, as the United States began an ambitious e ort to resettle displaced Somali Bantu people, the New York Times documented one family’s relocation from a war-torn region in Africa to the desert city of Tucson, Ariz.

Its front-page article, “U.S. a Place of Miracles for Somali Refugees,” featured photos of a Somali couple and two of their young children exploring an American grocery store, their toddler riding on mother Khadija Hussein’s back. Through an interpreter, father Osman Yarrow told the Times there was something they desired more than Western conveniences and material abundance: safe harbor. He’d witnessed executions during Somalia’s civil war and spent years at a refugee camp in Kenya, where the sound of bullets remained an unsettling din, the Times reported.

Finally, Yarrow said, “We will sleep without hearing gunshots.”

The couple later moved their growing family to Burlington, where Yarrow worked as a cleaner. But the security they sought proved elusive. One of Yarrow’s daughters alleged housing discrimination by a landlord who, she said, scared her children and told them to “go back to Africa,” though a federal judge ruled against her. One of their sons was convicted last year of assaulting someone with a gun, and another son was convicted of aggravated assault for shooting a man in November 2020. Yarrow died that same year.

Last week, 19-year-old Abdiaziz

Abdhikadir, Yarrow’s grandson, was arraigned in Burlington on charges of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Hussein Mubarak, 21, in July in the Old North End. Abdhikadir is also charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting into the home of Mubarak’s family, fellow Somali refugees, earlier this year.

Mubarak’s parents and siblings watched in grief as Abdhikadir pleaded not guilty by video from Northwest State

losing children to violence in its endemic American form.

Since 2020, Burlington has tallied 51 gunfire incidents — when a weapon is fired in a criminal way, whether or not someone is struck. Police have connected 22 of these incidents to a small group of people, whom they’ve described only in general terms as young men with “amorphous” relationships. A review of public records shows that an outsize share of the alleged shooters and known victims come

young as 14, guns have become part of their social reality.

The surge of shootings is not unique to Burlington, or even within Vermont. Similar spasms are affecting smaller towns such as Bennington, where police have logged 18 gunfire incidents this year. Nationwide, shootings and murders have spiked after years of decline. The problem is multifaceted: Even if guns weren’t in the hands of local youths, the amount of recent gunfire in Burlington would still be startlingly high. Nor is the violence limited to the new American community.

Correctional Facility, where he has been detained since July. Abdhikadir’s family was not in the courtroom. They had left Vermont before Abdhikadir’s arrest to get away from him, Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George said. Seven Days could not reach them for comment.

Mubarak’s killing and Abdhikadir’s apprehension revealed a largely unseen dimension of Burlington’s escalating gun violence problem. Amid an unprecedented spike in gunfire, families that came to Burlington to escape conflicts abroad are now

from immigrant families and communities of color. Seven of those facing criminal charges related to this gun violence were not yet 21 years old, meaning they couldn’t legally buy a handgun in Vermont.

These youths have become entangled in a street life that includes drugs and petty crime, records obtained from police and court files show. Over the past several years, the scene has taken a more dangerous turn as young men, teens and some juveniles began arming themselves for protection and power. For some as

Amid that complexity, city officials have not called for a youth-centered response. And they’ve avoided discussing the involvement of immigrant youth, a detail Mayor Miro Weinberger said was not “particularly relevant” to share publicly and one he worried would fuel racist stereotypes, even as mug shots of young Black men have led newscasts with little context.

Officials have instead talked tough about holding offenders accountable, hoping the message would deter others from deciding to pull a trigger. Their push, relentlessly, has been for hiring more ocers to the depleted department.

Some worry that the public safety panic is overshadowing deeper drivers of the uptick, including the chasms between police and vulnerable residents. Confronting the ways gun violence can ensnare youths of color o ers a chance to curb further harm and keep more Black kids out of prison, Burlington High School dean of

may be something that we could have prevented a long time ago that we did not see coming.

students LeVar Barrino said. But he said he understands why Burlington’s largely white city leaders have been reluctant to do so: “The backlash is that they’re going to be called racist.”

But, Barrino added, “We’re not going to make any progress if we can’t get those people to lean into the vulnerability to put that out there.”

Mubarak’s death has already spurred leaders of the city’s immigrant communities to act. They’re planning meetings with families and looking for ways to address violence among new American youths. One such group, the Vermont New American Advisory Council, formed during the pandemic to improve civic engagement among immigrants and refugees but is turning its attention to gun violence. The group, of which Burlington City Councilor Ali Dieng (I-Ward 7) is a member, asked for and received $20,000 from the city in August to jump-start its work.

“This may be something that we could have prevented a long time ago that we did not see coming,” Dieng said. “Now it’s in front of us.”

‘Quickly Someone Has a Gun Out’

Five 911 calls came in quick succession one afternoon in August 2020. At least 20 people, most of them teens, had surrounded a man at Buell Street and South Winooski Avenue in downtown Burlington, the callers reported. One of the assailants pulled out a gun and attempted to strike the man with it as the skirmish spilled into the street.

The group broke up when police arrived. The victim told investigators that the fight had been over drugs and he only knew his attackers by their street names. Police were able to apprehend one of them — Bonide Badibanga, then 18 — and arrested him for aggravated assault.

One witness to the beatdown and attempted pistol-whipping told police he’d “never seen anything like this in Burlington.”

But experts say it’s becoming more common for youths in and around the Queen City to brandish guns. The escalation has alarmed law enforcement and people who work with children.

“It seems that what was 10 to 15 years ago a fistfight, now quickly someone has a gun out,” South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke said. He added, “It’s so concerning from a societal standpoint that we’ve got these young people making these impulsive decisions.”

Marshall Pahl, the state’s chief juvenile defender, said it’s not surprising that groups of young people are driving the spate of violence. Research shows that

“emerging adults” — those in their late teens and early twenties — are prone to impulsivity and emotional swings that can lead to violence. They’re also more likely to engage in risky behavior in the company of friends than alone.

Court records show numerous instances in which young people are using guns in the Burlington area in dangerous ways, even if they don’t pull the trigger. In November 2020, two teenagers were accused of robbing a South Burlington hotel at gunpoint. One of those teens was later accused of pulling a gun on someone in a parking lot when the man confronted him about a stolen GoPro camera. Last summer, police said 20-year-old Kendall Liberty broke into an apartment carrying an AK-47 and aimed it at a 19-year-old woman. He pleaded guilty to a federal gun possession charge.

Still, the scope of the problem is dicult to ascertain. Young people involved in these incidents are often reluctant to speak to police, so a davits may not represent a full accounting of a crime. Juvenile court records are sealed, and the people with access to them can’t discuss cases due to confidentiality laws.

Even state agencies that work with at-risk kids have limited access to data that could identify trends in youth violence. To fill the information gap, experts in Chittenden County meet regularly to share reports about delinquent youths and how to address public safety — particularly now that Woodside, the state’s only juvenile detention center, has closed.

Aryka Radke, deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department for Children and Families, said young people have progressed from crimes such as retail theft to firearms o enses, citing reports compiled over the past two years.

“The concern is this indicates a normalization of carrying firearms or presenting as if carrying a firearm,” Radke said in a statement to Seven Days.

Officials have largely avoided using the term “gang” when characterizing the youths’ modus operandi. On the whole, those involved don’t engage in turf wars over drug sales, though some do use or sell narcotics. And their relationships with one another lack structure or hierarchy. Instead of swearing fealty to a crew for life, members of this scene are part of overlapping social circles. Loyalties can shift.

At the same time, perpetrators are willing to exact revenge when an ally is wronged. Bonds are particularly strong in immigrant communities, State’s Attorney George said.

“It does still lead to that same mentality of You’re with me, or you’re against me that gangs have,” she said.

WARNING SHOTS

In court filings, a UVM police o cer did describe Abdhikadir, Mubarak’s alleged killer, as a member of a “gang” — a juvenile one. Court records show that Abdhikadir and his crew stole cars together, wearing surgical gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints behind. A number of them, Abdhikadir included, have been reported as runaways from state custody.

Two of the people who stole cars with Abdhikadir were accused of carrying out a brazen, targeted assault at the top of Church Street on a sunny morning in July. Wearing black ski masks, they shoved a man to the ground and pummeled him, ignoring bystanders who yelled at them to stop.

Before the cops arrived, the man got to his feet, climbed into a vehicle and drove away. The guys in the ski masks fled, too. One of them was 20 years old; the other, 14. Customers at nearby Kru Coffee saw the whole incident unfold. Megan Munson-Warnken called 911 and recorded the attack on her cellphone.

“I watched ‘The Sopranos,’” she said. “It definitely felt like I’ve seen it before.”

Pulling the Trigger

During one week in August 2020, Burlington police responded to three di erent reports of gunfire: first during a large fight at Oakledge Park; then at a Plattsburg Avenue house, where someone shot into a bedroom; and finally at Leddy Park, where one of the victims fled into a stranger’s home.

Some witnesses told police the incidents were part of the same feud, according to partially redacted police reports. One person told an o cer that the dispute would continue “until someone was killed.”

But officers were unable to make an arrest because almost none of the witnesses or victims would say much more. The police department put out a public plea for others to come forward to forestall “further escalation.”

“Help keep your friends safe, if they won’t help themselves,” acting Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said in a press release at the time.

In the two-plus years since, nearly 20 other gunfire incidents have involved an overlapping cast of combatants, targets and witnesses with links to people present at the trio of scenes, according to police. They have mostly targeted each other, but the violent behavior has proven contagious

Abukar Hilowle, 19, is accused of shooting a friend, possibly by accident, while the two were inside a car over the summer. Two days later, he allegedly shot and

wounded two strangers on a downtown Burlington sidewalk after he claimed one of them used a racial slur. Security cameras captured the shooter wielding a 9mm pistol in each hand.

Despite their age, these young men haven’t had trouble getting hold of handguns. Detectives traced two guns found at the scene of a July 2021 shoot-out at Simon’s gas station on South Winooski Avenue: One had been reported stolen from a truck in Milton in 2019; the other, a 9mm Glock, had been taken just days earlier from the front seat of a car parked outside a house party in Montpelier.

The owner of the latter gun later told federal investigators he had been too embarrassed to report the theft. Federal investigators allege in court papers that a group of fellow partygoers, including Mubarak and 18-year-olds Badal Khadka and Aaron Dang, returned to Burlington with the gun.

The guns ended up in the hands of Burlington brothers Abdirahman Mohamed, 19, and Ahmed Mohamed, 22, police say. Both young men had been shot at, and in one case wounded, in 2020.

“Ahmed told me,” a police o cer wrote in an a davit, “that after being shot, he is not afraid of guns anymore.”

Targeted

Born at a refugee camp in Kenya, Mubarak was only 4 years old when his family resettled in Burlington. He grew up in the city, shaped in part by the gulf between American culture and his family’s. His complicated childhood is described in court filings related to a 2021 federal drug conviction that caused him to spend most of his last year alive in prison.

His parents, devout Muslims, had trouble accepting some American prac tices, leading to conflict as their children became involved in life outside their immediate family, his federal public defender wrote in a memo to the judge. He saw older and younger siblings spend time

asked her to help her younger brother learn his ABCs and translate during parent-teacher conferences.

A middle child who excelled at school and soccer, Mubarak “was the glue of the family,” his older sister Hamara wrote in court papers. Many people knew him as both a friend and mentor. He was the first in his family to graduate high school and went to Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

But he got in legal trouble there, soon dropped out and returned to Burlington, where he began selling cocaine. He was arrested and imprisoned for 10 months, a stint that left him “wanting to start life all over again,” his sister told Seven Days after his death.

While Mubarak was locked up, Abdhikadir drove to the family’s apart ment on Riverside Avenue in February and fired a gun into the home from the sidewalk, authorities now allege. One of the bullets struck a Minnie Mouse back pack that was hanging on a wall.

The Mubarak children and Abdhika dir had known each other for years, but at some point their relationship deteriorated. Police believe Abdhikadir and Mubarak’s younger brother were involved in a shooting at Roosevelt Park a month before Mubarak’s death. The reasons for the animosity aren’t entirely clear from court records. Mubarak had been out of prison for only a few days before he was killed.

The charges against Abdhikadir follow years of increasingly troubling behavior and recent violent outbursts. Court records describe an incident during summer 2021 in which his mother found a 9mm handgun in their house and hid it from Abdhikadir’s younger siblings. Abdhikadir then smashed his mother’s car windshield and punched holes in the walls of her apartment, court records allege.

in jail and DCF custody. By middle school, he began working at a grocery store to earn money for the family. Around that time, he started selling cannabis, too.

It’s a set of experiences that Dina John, who immigrated to the U.S. from Kenya, understands. John, 22, a recent University of Vermont graduate who’s running as a Progressive in the East District city council race, worked with Hussein for several years at a senior living facility in Shelburne. “His story is like a lot of BIPOC people growing up in Burl ington,” she said.

Adult responsibilities are often thrust on immigrant kids at young ages. When John was in elementary school, teachers

Police believe Abdhikadir planned his attack on Hussein Mubarak. Prosecutors haven’t charged any accomplices, but a detective’s affidavit describes the ways police say Abdhikadir sought help from friends to cover up the killing. Even after a judge ordered him detained on an unrelated shooting charge, Abdhika dir appears to have continued to solicit his friends using the prison phone line, which is monitored by authorities.

In one call, he asked a friend for help shoring up an alibi, according to a tran script in court filings. The teen on the other end of the line is identified in the public records by the same initials and birth date as one of the teens from the ski-masked assault on Church Street in July. He’s 14.

His story is like a lot of BIPOC people growing up in Burlington.

WARNING SHOTS

Arms of the Law

From an unmarked suite high in a downtown Burlington o ce building, six agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives investigate the most serious gun-related crimes in the state. The resident agent in charge, Alexander Schmidt, is a UVM graduate and former Maryland state trooper who can speak about his work uninterrupted for 20 minutes, running through the nested points of a mental outline without losing his train of thought.

To explain one of his main ideas, Schmidt used a blue ballpoint pen to make an imaginary line across a glossy conference table.

“When you’ve crossed this line and you’ve pulled the trigger,” he said, “that is a major, red-flag indicator that you’re likely not going to stop.”

The notion that gunfire breeds more gunfire is why Vermont law enforcement is prioritizing swift arrest and prosecution of shooters. “As quickly and e ciently as we can, how can we interrupt the cycle of violence? That’s our obligation at ATF,” Schmidt said.

Swamped with cases, the short-sta ed Burlington police and several other Chittenden County departments joined with Schmidt’s o ce over the summer to form a joint task force dedicated to gun violence.

The partnership brings a new degree of cooperation, intelligence sharing and investigative muscle to shooting cases, Schmidt said. It includes a pool of people who can respond to active scenes, as happened last month when Denroy Dasent, 52, allegedly killed two men in Burlington and South Burlington. Schmidt’s o ce will soon acquire a $150,000 machine that can analyze ballistics fragments to identify connections between crime scenes. The federally administered system has not been easily accessible to Vermont police in the past.

O cials have been scrutinizing other barriers to holding shooters accountable. Vermont law makes it di cult to bring felony charges in gunfire incidents when nobody is struck or victims don’t cooperate. Prosecutors can charge these cases as reckless endangerment, defined as conduct that could harm another person. But the o ense is a misdemeanor, which prevents holding defendants without bail. Mayor Weinberger plans to lobby state lawmakers to make reckless endangerment a felony when it involves a firearm.

Though many incidents are still unsolved, Burlington police say they’ve made several significant arrests of young residents. Their “removal from the board,” acting Chief Murad said at a recent press conference, “has decreased gun violence in that group.”

Will successful prosecution of these young men bring an end to the problem? The person trying to convict them thinks not.

State’s Attorney George is a leading advocate for criminal justice reform who has made her name by pushing for a more restorative and rehabilitative approach. She’s supportive of state laws designed to move cases involving defendants age 21 and under into family court, where they are treated as juvenile o enders. When a young person is accused of shooting at someone, however, she has sought to prosecute them as adults and has asked judges to hold them without bail while the case is pending. Judges have almost always agreed.

Without suitable rehabilitation programs for young men who have committed violent acts, George sees incarceration as the only short-term option. But she’s wrestling with how much prison time to seek. She said youths who spend time in prison are more likely to commit violent crime when they get out.

“I don’t want these young people in jail,” she said. “How do you balance that with also making sure the violence stops in the meantime?”

“I don’t know the answer,” George added, “which is scary.”

One of the young men currently detained is Badibanga, who was charged in the August 2020 assault on South Winooski Avenue. In late 2021, Badibanga was accused of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at two of his brothers after his family confronted him about having a gun in their Old North End home. A “Free Brazii” campaign, which refers to Badibanga by a nickname, has since published statements attributed to Badibanga’s mother, stating that she didn’t know her cooperation with police would help put her son in prison. No one was wounded in the incident.

But family members have not recanted their initial statements, George said, and Badibanga’s concerning conduct extends beyond what the public record shows.

The swell in young people facing prosecution for gun-related crime demands a comprehensive response that goes beyond arrests, according to Melo Grant, who serves on the city’s Police Commission.

The citizen-led panel is charged with crafting police department policy and reviewing uses of force by officers. In

recent years, the commission has made it a priority to address racial disparities in traffic stops and arrests.

“We’re going to bring in ATF, and we’re going to start hunting our kids? Because that’s what’s going to happen,” Grant said. “We already [incarcerate] a ridiculous percentage of Black and brown people in Vermont. So we have these kids going through the Burlington school system and then ending up in jail. Why is that happening?”

She added: “No one wants to do the deep dive, and it’s heartbreaking.”

Looking Upstream

Back in 2015, Councilor Dieng started an outreach program within the Burlington School District to teach parents of immigrant students about aspects of life in America. Parent University, as it’s called, covers practical skills such as financial literacy as well as essential street smarts. Dieng has brought in photos of cannabis, for instance, so parents know what the drug looks like in case their teen started bringing it home.

It hadn’t occurred to Dieng, an educa tor who emigrated from Mauritania, that his America 101 curriculum should cover guns.

“I never thought it would come to this,” he said.

Now, though, Dieng sees not talk ing to Burlington’s immigrant families about gun violence as a missed opportu nity to get ahead of the problem — one that community leaders fear won’t be solved with prosecution alone. Reduc ing gun violence, they say, demands a broader effort that involves the people most affected by it and a willingness to confront the factors, including systemic racism, that keep them on the margins.

Dieng’s group, the advisory council, is experimenting with ways to broach these topics. Starting in December, the group will invite at-risk youths to participate in a “restorative justice circle” with help from the Burlington Community Justice Center. Leaders of immigrant communi ties will speak at town hall-style events about the impacts of gun violence, and therapists will help families process the trauma inflicted by gunfire.

The issue is difficult to discuss publicly. Several members of the immi grant community either didn’t respond to Seven Days ’ interview requests or declined them; one person explained through a third party that the trauma of recent shootings was too fresh. Leadership at the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington, which works closely with new American youths in the Old North End, didn’t respond to several interview requests.

Aden Haji, an advisory council member and Somali immigrant, said Mubarak’s death and other shootings have taken a toll on his community. Fami lies need mental health services to help break down generational divides that create tension in immigrant households, Haji said.

“It’s unfortunate a loving member of our community had to pass away before we can start having this type of

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We have these kids going through the Burlington school system and then ending up in jail. Why is that happening?

WARNING SHOTS

conversation,” he said, “[but] it did open a lot of people’s eyes.”

Yacouba Jacob Bogre, executive director of AALV, said he thinks many of the city’s immigrant families want to help come up with solutions; some of the families who were directly impacted by the shootings have already come to AALV for assistance.

The organization, which operates youth and family programs, is planning to meet with each of the area’s ethnic communities before the year’s end to hear their ideas. Bogre suggested that Burlington might also learn from other, larger cities that have more experience grappling with youth violence in immigrant communities.

Bogre said he thinks it’s important that no one group — or Burlington’s immigrants as a whole — be blamed for the city’s gun violence. “It’s a community issue,” he said.

Immigrants can’t be expected to address the issue alone, said Mercedes Avila, a UVM pediatrics professor who studies health disparities. She said the involvement of new American youths in street violence shouldn’t be surprising, because they face barriers accessing systems that don’t do enough to accommodate non-English speakers or people from other cultures.

“It’s all connected to how disconnected, in a way, young people feel in our communities,” she said.

Data have consistently shown significant racial disparities in outcomes that Black youths face when they encounter police and the juvenile justice system. Those ages 17 and under comprise just 16 percent of the student population but accounted for 44 percent of all youth arrests in the city during a three-year period ending in 2019, according to state data. Black youths ages 18 and 19 accounted for 24 percent of arrests in the same period.

No child just wakes up and says, ‘Today I’m going to pick up a gun.’

Experts have increasingly looked to schools as drivers of racial disparities. A state youth violence prevention council, of which Avila is a member, recently began funneling some federal funds to Burlington school-based programs. District leaders said they’re moving away from conventional forms of punishment such as suspension, a recognition of data showing a close link between racially disproportionate discipline and legal trouble for kids down the line. The district also ended its uniformed school resource o cer program — to acting Chief Murad’s chagrin — in favor of more approachable authority figures.

Barrino, the new dean of students, plays a key role in the district’s efforts. A charismatic New Yorker who wears jeans and a flat-brim hat, Barrino is trying to earn the trust of at-risk students so he can help intervene in conflicts. He brings to the work nearly two decades of experience working at the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington. He became such a fixture

in the neighborhood that his portrait now figures prominently in a mural at Roosevelt Park.

Barrino sees how easily arguments can bubble up, with social media being a primary accelerant. Conflicts related to race or ethnicity can become cultural minefields that Barrino, his sta and the district’s multilingual liaisons try to navigate and defuse before they get violent. Two weeks ago, Barrino brought together 15 people in the African and Nepali communities to mediate a beef between two students. The meeting de-escalated the situation, Barrino said.

“It doesn’t always happen, but when we catch one, it feels awesome,” he said. “Hopefully this will slow it down.”

Shabnam Nolan, executive director of the King Street Center, said prevention work needs to target kids when they’re young, before they’re drawn to the streets. Nolan said kids first come to King Street in preschool so that, by their early teens, the center feels like their second home. They

stay engaged because they help design the center’s programs: This year, Burton Snowboards’ Chill Foundation is teaching kids how to build skateboards; others are learning to play tennis with Jake Agna, a local pro.

But one of King Street’s most popular programs is its lemonade stand. A mainstay on the Church Street Marketplace every summer, the stand gives teens an opportunity to socialize and earn some cash — an alternative to selling drugs. Nolan knows of few other hands-on career-development programs in the area.

The spike in gun violence demands a hard look at programming gaps and how to close them, Nolan said. That means identifying and addressing the root causes of youth violence — not an easy task, but one Nolan said is the community’s collective responsibility.

“No child just wakes up and says, ‘Today I’m going to pick up a gun.’ There’s a whole history there that leads up to that moment,” Nolan said. “We need to focus in on why.”

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‘Alone’ Together

Elite specialist Jessie Krebs leads hands-on wilderness survival classes for women

Ahiker stepped off the trail to pee, got disoriented and wound up dead. A mother and son’s car broke down in Death Valley; the son died. A hunter lost the trail back to his truck and died of hypothermia in a surprise snowstorm.

Jessie Krebs, a U.S. Air Force-trained survival specialist, has a million of these stories, and none features a happy ending.

On a recent Sunday, Krebs — a five-foot, four-inch dynamo with a sparkling smile and an outback hat — used these grisly tales to capture the attention of 15 women gathered for her outdoor survival skills class. It worked.

Bundled up to ward off the October chill and hunkered down on camp chairs and benches, the women ranged in age from their thirties to their seventies and in fitness level from marathon runner to notso-much. They were a collective sponge, soaking up Krebs’ hard-earned wisdom.

Krebs, 50, is the founder of Outdoorsy Women Learning Survival Skills (OWLS Skills), a Colorado-based outdoor school dedicated to teaching women. An eightmonth stint living in Vermont in the early 2000s acquainted her with the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association and its women’s programming, Doe Camp Nation. The latter periodically invites her to teach at the Monkton property of the associa tion’s executive director, Gray Stevens.

Krebs was, more or less, born a survivor. Abused from early childhood by her stepgrandfather, she sought shelter, solace and healing in the outdoors. “Indoors did not feel safe. I’d go outside and climb a tree,” she said. “My reasoning was, He can’t get me here.”

At age 18, she was one of 12 students (out of 20) to survive the Air Force’s yearlong training to become an elite Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Specialist. She endured a trek across the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania for the National Geographic “Mygrations” series. Earlier this year, she made it to day 46 as a contestant on the ninth season of “Alone”— a HISTORY Channel show that, as the name implies, drops contestants in the wilderness to survive on their own. A stomach illness required that she bow out; the winner survived for 76 days.

There’s not much chitchat during a Krebs workshop. Participants explore the five basic needs of a survivor: signaling, navigation, sustenance, shelter and health. The five ways we lose heat: respiration,

OUTDOORS

radiation, evaporation, conduction and convection. The handy STOP acronym: stop, think, observe, plan and act.

Krebs joked: “I’d rather be a live lump than a cute corpse,” extolling the heatretention properties of loose, layered clothing over form-fitting spandex. She cajoled. She growled. She engaged in some call-and-response: “You’re lost in the woods. What’s your priority?!” was the frequent question. “Signaling!” we caroled back. “Feel yourself starting to panic?” she asked. “S.T.O.P.!” we chorused. She taught a simple breathing pattern — exhales should be longer than inhales — to show

us how to calm down and get out of “lizard brain,” the part of our brains that tends to make very bad decisions.

Although some of her workshops include men, and her MasterClass on wilderness survival is geared to everyone, Krebs said she focuses on outdoor educa tion for women. Her literature specifically invites women and “nonbinary folks who are comfortable in women-only spaces,” because, she said, she has found that “once you get a man in the group, the whole dynamic changes.” She has seen men grab a line from a female classmate’s hands during a knot-tying session.

“Humans have been passing down wilderness skills for years, but women were often excluded,” Krebs said. Her Air Force survival training included only one other woman. In nine seasons, 80 percent of “Alone” contestants have been men. The OWLS Skills school aims to address that disparity.

Her students were grateful. “I’m surrounded by men all day at work,” said Jodi Ovens, 46, the chief financial officer and HR manager for a construction firm in Newbury. A marathon runner and seri ous cyclist, Ovens searched for a class for “strong, empowered women.” She wants to be able to travel more safely outdoors and to be more thoughtful and intentional in exploring nature.

Concerns about the impact of climate change prompted Sami Pincus, 56, an Alexander technique instructor from Charlotte, to seek out the workshop. She said she was surprised by how meaningful it was to take an all-women class. “It is so conducive to learning in a comfortable way,” she said. “It felt so supportive.”

Pincus noted that the skills Krebs taught could be applicable to many situa tions in life. She referred to one of Krebs’ examples of a student who used signaling techniques with a mirror to alert passing motorists that her car was broken down at the edge of the road. “I think everyone should know this information,” Pincus said.

Like a magician conjuring a rabbit from a hat, Krebs pulled small pieces of equip ment from the pockets of her dusty pants: a tiny signaling mirror, a cheap plastic compass, a ferro rod for creating sparks to start a fire, a vial of iodine pills for purifying water, a Mylar blanket folded to the size of a deck of cards to use as a windbreak or as a signal when laid on the ground, a Swiss Army-type multi-tool for everything. She prefers to stash her tools in pockets rather than a small pack, because one could get separated from a pack (another terrifying story was offered).

Around her wrist, Krebs wore a yellow survival bracelet made of six feet of para cord that can be separated into multiple strands to create a rope 50 feet long. In the inner band of her hat, she’d stashed a threaded needle, for clothing repairs, and a single-edged razor blade wrapped in oil-soaked cardboard. The blade has many uses, including shaving kindling, and the cardboard is handy for starting a fire.

The workshop was a flurry of activ ity: We tried our hand at signaling with mirrors. We gathered round a rain barrel to watch Krebs scoop and purify water. We practiced square knots and half hitches. We broke for lunch and snacks. We peed in the woods. We sharpened knives. Krebs’ energy never flagged.

The class is not geared toward mountaineers or extreme adventurers, although the lessons apply to them. “Day hikes are the most dangerous,” Krebs said. “People think, Oh, it’s just a day hike. I have some water and my phone,” and they leave unprepared. Something happens — unexpected weather, a fall, missing a trail marker — and the trouble starts. The phone dies. It gets dark. Panic sets in, and that lizard brain takes over.

Kerri Hansen, 67, a retiree from Wolcott, had a scare when she stepped off the hiking trail on a ridge near Mount Worcester. After relieving herself, she decided to try a spur trail to get back to the main path.

“It was so stupid, but I got lost,” she said, laugh ing with embarrassment. She and her hiking buddy began calling to each other (signaling!) and were quickly reunited on the right trail. “It was not really anything,” she said, “but I could feel that feeling in the pit of my stomach.”

spent in the rain under the tarp shelter that Krebs taught her to build. “It really made me feel more confident.”

The chance to become a more confi dent camper appealed to Rebecca Feld man, a nurse practitioner in Brooklyn, N.Y. She and her three sons often leave the city for camping trips in the Catskill Mountains. (Her Manhattan-raised husband, she said, is “not very inter ested.”) Other outdoor skills classes she considered, she said, had a “macho vibe: … ‘Do you have grit enough to survive this course?’”

A fan of “Alone,” Feldman said she was delighted to discover Krebs’ work shops. “She’s so prac tical and positive,” she said. “I followed her on Instagram but never dreamed I’d get to learn from her.” Feldman’s goal is to hike the Appa lachian Trail — “prob ably in segments, not all at once.”

Natalia Perchemlides, 45, of Cornwall said she barely kept her panic in check when, on an organized group crosscountry ski outing with her 8-year-old daughter, the pair lagged behind to help a 6-year-old who was having trouble keeping up. Before Perchemlides knew it, the main group was out of sight, and it was growing dark. She thought she knew where she was going but kept getting turned around. Finally, she heard one of the group leaders searching for her and calling. “I shouted back, and she came and led us out,” she said.

“I want to be competent in emergency situations,” said Perchemlides, a writer who homeschools her two children. In June, she attended Krebs’ overnight course in Monkton. “It pushed me to the limits of my comfort level but was defi nitely doable,” she said of the night she

“I’m not interested that much in backpack ing,” said Krista Imes, 36, of Bolton Valley. “Frankly, it just sounds like too much work.” Imes, who works remotely as a recruiter in the maritime industry, began doing serious outdoorsy stuff while living in the Pacific Northwest. She liked Krebs’ class because it emphasized “minimal” survival equipment — a mirror, a ferro rod, a compass, a tarp. To Imes, that means “I can safely plan to go longer distances in a day.”

A veteran of several Doe Camp Nation courses, she hopes to do one of Krebs’ overnight sessions.

In all of her offerings, Krebs has two main goals, she said. One is to educate people about the wilderness and empower them to keep themselves safe outdoors. The other is to help people keep themselves safe indoors, too. She talks openly about her childhood experi ence of abuse.

“I think the more we talk about it,” she said, “the more we realize how much is happening around us — and the more we can work to keep it from happening.”

Spoken like a survivor. m

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HUMANS HAVE BEEN PASSING DOWN WILDERNESS SKILLS FOR YEARS, BUT WOMEN WERE OFTEN EXCLUDED.

Going the Distance

For many, the idea of running threemile loops around the Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston for up to 36 hours seems, well, like an undesirable use of time. To put things in perspective, watching all the Harry Potter movies without stopping takes just under 20 hours, while driving directly to Salt Lake City from Burlington takes 35 hours.

But for the 101 distance runners who participated in the inaugural RUTFest (the Richmond Ultra Trail Festival) last November, those 36 hours were a chance to run distances never reached before, connect with members of the trail running community, and share food, stories and more.

This weekend, the second annual RUTFest provides an opportunity for runners of all abilities to run loops around Catamount — as many or as few as desired. Unlike other endurance races, RUTFest doesn’t prescribe a specific distance that runners must complete to have “finished” the event. The environment is laid-back and supportive of all distance goals — or lack of them.

“It’s been a concept I’d been mulling over for a few years,” Linskey said. “I’d done a bunch of similar races, but I didn’t want

there to be an entrance fee. I wanted to raise money for charity, run really far with my friends and provide a space for people to go further than they’d ever gone before.”

Thus, RUTFest was born. The event serves as a community running festival, with all participants contributing $20 to one of the nonprofits that fit the theme chosen for the year. Last year’s theme was recovery, and donations were spread

Although the race is 36 hours long, few runners stay up all night running. Some come for one day; others run both days but go home to sleep at night; some stay for just a few hours.

While five runners, including Linskey, ran 100 miles or more at last year’s race, “everyone had a different plan for the weekend,” Linskey said, adding that he “ran the entire time.”

According to postrace calculations by the Richmond Trail Running Club, more than 30 percent of last year’s runners ran farther than they’d ever run before. For two of the five runners who eclipsed 100 miles, it was the first time they’d done so.

Everyone’s experience is different, and the only goal for the event is to bring runners together.

Linskey, who majored in commu nity development at the University of Vermont, said that “community is a focal point of my life. I wanted to bring that community environment to a race.”

In addition to running, each race participant is responsible for manag ing a one-hour shift at the event’s aid station and bringing a dish for runners to share. “Everyone’s a race director at RUTFest,” Linskey said. “Sure, a bunch of us do legwork beforehand, but as soon as the race starts, everyone’s in charge.”

From course setup to breakdown, the running community is involved. Even course development is open to commu nity input.

“I don’t want to tell people what to run,” Linskey said, so he asked runners to submit course variations and then put the most popular suggested routes to a vote.

Last year’s RUTFest winner, Will Robinson, ran 112 miles, which he said is still his longest effort. Although he was unsure about what the event would look like, he knew that he wanted to push himself. “I set a goal of 100 miles and started out socially running on and off with a friend. I then would find others to run with as the event went on,” Robinson said.

While Robinson, a trail running enthusiast from Middlebury, entered RUTFest to compete, he interacted with runners of varying levels during the race. One person he did a few laps with was running in between dropping off and picking up her child from a birthday party.

Aaron Kinsey of Williston said he had “no goal for last year’s event” but was able to finish his first marathon.

“This type of event is great because there’s not really a lot of pressure,” Kinsey said. “You can bring your family, which is nice because my kids and wife enjoy walking the trails at Catamount.” Kinsey said his goal this year is to run at least another marathon.

This year’s RUTFest is set to be just as fun, unpredictable and communityoriented as last year, according to Linskey.

“It really is just a supportive and chill atmosphere,” he said. “Everybody’s just so proud of everyone else for doing what they’re doing.” m

INFO

runs from Saturday, November 5, 6 a.m., until Sunday, November 6, 6 p.m., at Catamount Family Outdoor Center in Williston. Register at ultrasignup.com or email richmondtrailrunners@gmail.com to learn

‘Snail’s-Eye View’

Meg Madden champions the hidden roles and art of mushrooms

Meg Madden smiled as she held up what looked like a porto bello mushroom dipped in blue paint. “This is one of my favorites, the indigo milk cap,” she said. “When you cut it, it gives off a blue milk.” A piece she broke off oozed blue ink all over her palms.

At Wright Park in Middlebury, Madden was leading 21 participants in a mushroom walk, seeking out a colorful bounty of treasure tucked among leaves and behind trees. Every so often she disappeared into the brush and returned with a new mush room that got passed around the circle, photographed and fawned over like a plump new baby.

“[Being outdoors] has been my therapy during the pandemic,” said participant Annette Seidenglanz, 68, who moved to Winooski in 2018 with her husband, Chuck Bowes, from outside Philadelphia. Seidenglanz, an artist, joked that she prefers mushrooming to birding because “mushrooms don’t fly away.” Fellow mushroom walk attendees included other artists, a scientist, a teacher and a couple of AmeriCorps volunteers.

Middlebury-based Madden, 48, is a longtime artist and jeweler relatively new to the world of mycology. Inspired to begin learning about mushrooms in 2020, she now leads educational walks for groups such as the Birds of Vermont Museum, the Green Mountain Audubon Society and the Middlebury Land Trust. The avid mushroom photographer has more than 40,000 Instagram followers, has sold photos for mushroom supple ment advertising and a nature-focused card game, and will have a book about mushrooms published in early 2023. She’s also been key in working to compile a catalog of state mushrooms that could help Vermont conservationists track endangered tree species.

On the Wright Park walk, Madden carried a multicolored basket that, three hours later, would brim with mushrooms of all shapes and sizes. We saw yellow coral mushrooms; green elf cup, a cluster of tiny turquoise mushrooms growing on a fallen tree; and fly agaric, a row of fat red toadstools three inches tall that Madden warned were “psychoactive, but not in a good way.”

Madden told us about mycelium, a network of fungal threads or mushroom roots in the soil that can be hundreds, even

thousands, of miles long. These thin fila ments work in symbiosis with tree roots: Trees nourish the mushrooms, and the mycelium extends the trees’ roots and increases the quantity of nutrients the trees can receive.

Madden drew us in by sharing the playful names of mushrooms, such as tippler’s bane, chicken fat and jelly babies. She shared strange but true stories about mushrooms such as the so-called “zombie fungus,” a parasite that lives in cicadas and spreads its spores through their mating attempts, even tricking males into trying to mate with each other.

Everett Marshall, a biologist and infor mation manager at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department who’s been on one of Madden’s walks, said, “She is outstand ing with the public. She’s able to convey

the mushroom’s role in an accessible way. She shies away from using scientific names.”

Madden is part of a currently form ing fungal advisory group that hopes to advise Fish & Wildlife’s Endangered Species Committee. One of its goals is to complete an official catalog of Vermont mushrooms. Though the state has check lists of its plants and animals, Marshall said, it has none for mushroom species, in part because few scientists study them. Mushroom identification is more common in Europe, where foraging is a part of many cultures, he explained.

But national interest in mushrooms is increasing, Marshall noted, thanks to books such as Canadian Suzanne Simard’s 2021 Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, which explains

the important role fungi play in ecosystem health and recovery.

In Vermont, a catalog would help the state preserve mature forests, Marshall said: “You could have a species missing, and a tree could be weakened by not having the fungal relationship it needs.”

To gather data for the mushroom catalog, Madden has participated in three National Geographic BioBlitzes: community surveys to record all the living species in a designated area. Participants can identify their findings and share them with people around the world using an app called iNaturalist.

During a 2020 BioBlitz in the town of Chittenden, run by Green Mountain National Forest, ecologist Suzanne Gifford came across Madden’s photos of the 31 fungi species she had logged.

“They stood out as particularly beauti ful,” Gifford recalled. “She was document ing fungi from a unique perspective, with expertise. We don’t have that kind of expertise in the Forest Service.”

Madden is currently leading an ongo ing BioBlitz at Wright Park that began in October. So far, 29 observers have logged 193 observations, including 77 species of fungi.

How did a longtime jeweler and flower farmer forge a new career in mushrooms?

Madden studied silversmithing in high school and started her own business, Shooting Star Jewelry, in 2006, selling handmade pieces online and at local boutiques and farmers markets. A selfdescribed Renaissance woman, she also studied horticulture and floral design and ran her own flower farm for 10 years in the early 2000s, selling bouquets at farmers markets and wholesale flowers to shops across the state.

Madden’s love affair with mushrooms began at the start of the pandemic, when she and her then-9-year-old daughter headed down backyard trails to explore the March landscape. On one such trek, she was surprised to see a splash of crim son amid the winter brush. “We thought, This can’t be. There’s nothing growing,” Madden recalled. “But we looked closer and saw mushrooms. I had to know what they were.”

After some online searching gave her a “peek into the rabbit hole of mycology,” she said, she was hooked. Woods walks morphed into adventures, and Madden, who had long taken close-up photos of her jewelry, began zooming in to capture mushrooms. These photos, taken with her iPhone 11 and posted to her Insta gram account, quickly drew attention. Her following jumped from 1,000 in December 2020 to its most recent count of more than 40,000. Her followers include mycologists, foragers, employees of mushroom supplement companies and everyday enthusiasts.

It wasn’t long before people were asking to purchase Madden’s photos and wanting to know more about the mushrooms. The pandemic, she believes, “allowed people to slow down and

appreciate nature, to learn about what they loved,” she said.

Madden has sold her photos for adver tising and for use in the nature-focused card game OuiSi, made by a business based in upstate New York. In March, Hachette Book Group will publish her This Is a Book for People Who Love Mushrooms, a mix of photos and information that blends Madden’s gifts for art and science.

Though her career path may seem eclectic, Madden said the common threads are her sense of wonder, her love for close-up detail and her fascination with science. Currently on hiatus from making jewelry, she’s working full time as a writer, mycologist and photographer.

“It’s a little scary sometimes,” she said. “Making ends meet can be tricky. But it’s my passion, and I’ve never been more excited or fulfilled by any calling in life.”

Toward the end of the mushroom walk, Madden pulled out a large piece of paper that resembled a woodblock print. It was a spore print, she said, an intricate replica of a mushroom’s underside made by placing it on paper for several hours.

“It is the underside of the mushroom that fascinates me,” she said. “Everyone can see the top. But if you peek under neath and get the snail’s-eye view, you see all the folds of the gills, the structure of pores, a view that is surprising.”

Madden hopes to set these prints under glass and incorporate them into her jewelry. “To be able to say to someone, ‘A mushroom made this. I didn’t make this,’” she said, “that would be so cool. Nature is the best artist.” m

Learn more at linktr.ee/megmadden or follow her on Instagram at megmaddendesign.

New Wing Opens at BTV

months now, Burlington International Airport — known by its three-letter airport code, BTV — has been under construction. It’s been hard

The

Inside the airport, travelers entering BTV’s first-floor Transportation Security Administration screening station have been greeted by a rendering of a spacious, new state-of-the-art checkpoint taking shape in the new building just beyond the wall.

On October 11, construction crews tore down that wall. The rendering is now a reality. It’s a dramatic change: twice as many security lanes, better lighting, newer equipment and a whole lot more space to spread out. All BTV passengers will now pass through it, regardless of what airline they’re flying.

The screening station is just one of the improvements made possible by the massive $19 million Terminal Integration Project, funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration; U.S.

is the

thing drivers and their passengers see as they approach the terminal from the entrance on Airport Drive.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and his team were instrumental in helping secure it. That project connected BTV’s North and South terminals, enabling passengers to move easily from one to the other after passing through security.

Frequent fliers will notice more changes at the city’s 102-year-old airport, and there are even more on the way. Spoiler alert: The upstairs of this new building is even nicer. Read on for a summary of what’s been done and what’s still to come, courtesy of newly minted Director of Aviation Nic Longo.

A self-described “aviation nerd,” Longo got his pilot’s license at age 17 and earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation and airport management, followed by a three-year stint as an air traffic controller in the New York City area.

He’s been working at BTV for 10 years. He oversaw operations before taking over as acting director in 2021; Mayor Miro Weinberger and the Burlington City Council made his appointment official in September. Now he’s leading BTV’s 50-person staff, the team that works around the clock to keep the airport up and running.

Longo is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide with a deep

understanding of the airport’s history — and a vision for its future.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger believes that future is bright. Weinberger calls BTV “a great asset” to the city, and the entire state. “The City of Burlington built BTV over 100 years ago and has stewarded this critical regional resource through many chapters of aviation history. I am proud of where we are today,” he said. “We are excited to

welcome roughly 700,000 passengers who take off from BTV each year, and this is just the beginning. We are going to continue this outstanding growth.”

WHAT’S NEW: Expanded, Modernized TSA Checkpoint

Every commercial airline passenger has to pass through a TSA screening station prior to boarding their flight. That often means standing in long lines; having to take off jackets and shoes; sorting through bags; filling up bins with laptops, wallets, keys and phones — and remembering to gather all those things up again before heading to the gate. For many travelers, it’s the most stressful part of the trip.

BTV’s new checkpoint is designed to improve that experience. For starters, it’s a whole lot bigger than the stations BTV used before. The TSA area takes up almost the entire first floor of the airport’s new wing. It includes four lanes instead of just two. And at each lane is a brand-new screening machine. Now travelers can leave their laptops and liquids inside their bags — no more pulling things out at the last minute and sticking them in a bin. Longo likens these podlike devices to jet engines.

Passengers put their things into shallow bins and send them through the machines. TSA agents scan the items inside. If something that’s possi bly prohibited turns up, the conveyor belt automatically funnels the item to the agent in charge for further screen ing. Longo got a demo of the equip ment before the area was opened to passengers. “When they showed me, I said, ‘I feel like this is something in a movie,’” he recalled.

Longo’s hopeful the expanded lanes and new equipment will reduce wait times. Elements like the carpeting, color and lighting choices are intended to have a calming effect, he said.

Once travelers are through security, they’ll appreciate the new “recom posure area” on the first floor, which offers travelers a chance to get their belongings together before heading to the gate.

Second-Floor Future Seating Area

After clearing the checkpoint, some travelers will continue on the first floor to the South concourse for Delta and JetBlue; everyone else will take an escalator, elevator or stairs to the second floor of the new wing.

The stairs open into an expansive space with a polished concrete floor. It will eventually include at least one gate and a jet bridge; the airport has already received additional funds to put it in. Currently, two of the airport’s nine jet bridges are unable to accom modate mainline aircraft. They’re too short and low to the ground to reach

the current generation of jets. Eventually, Longo hopes to move all the airport gates upstairs and use the ground level for equip ment storage.

The new second-floor space will also feature seating, which will give passengers a lot more room to spread out. While relaxing here, they’ll be able to enjoy panoramic views of Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield.

Reduced Carbon Footprint

The view from the second floor of the new wing also shows off the headquar ters of the airport’s most exciting tenant, Beta Technologies. Beta is building an electric aircraft and the charging infrastructure to support it, which is being installed at airports around the country. Founded by Vermonter Kyle Clark, the startup has received hundreds of millions of dollars of funding from entities including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund.

BTV travelers can see a prototype of one of Beta’s charging stations — a constellation of shipping containers and solar panels — on the tarmac and get occasional glimpses of Alia, Beta’s not-yet-FAA-approved aircraft, which takes off and lands at BTV.

On a tour of the airport’s new space, Longo points out a nondescript gray box in front of Beta’s HQ — one of the first charging stations for an electric aircraft anywhere. “It doesn’t look like much, but it’s really cool,” he said.

emissions from planes in the air, Longo and the airport’s team are focused on the emissions they can control — the ones from vehicles on the ground. During the tour of the upstairs of the new wing, Longo looked out the windows and spied an electric pressure washer and street sweeper maintaining a stretch of road adjacent to the parking garage. BTV is working to upgrade its fleet of service vehicles to electric vehicles when possible.

The airport is also using LED lighting in the new building, which comes with some carbon savings. It’s investigating geothermal heating and cooling and will install solar panels on the roof of the new building. All of that is included in the airport’s new sustainability plan.

WHAT’S NEXT: Removing the Second-Floor Security Checkpoint

In the next phase of construction, BTV will tackle a $1.7 million project: getting rid of the escalators to the old secondfloor security checkpoint and removing the screening equipment and glass barrier.

The current seating area outside BTV’s busiest gate, No. 8, was not designed for social distancing. The rows of chairs are clustered close together; even when passengers sit with a few seats between each other, it still feels cramped.

This next round of renovations is going to be a game changer, Longo explained. “It’s going to change the whole experience for passengers upstairs.”

That new experience will include more restrooms. The ones in the busy second-floor gate area have just five stalls each — not enough for an area used by several hundred passengers an hour.

Moving Up, Branching Out, Plugging In

BTV BY THE NUMBERS

$19 MILLION

The amount of the FAA grant that’s funding the airport’s Terminal Integration Project.

700,000 Roughly the number of departing passengers BTV serves each year.

600 The number of people employed by airport tenants and vendors, such as the TSA, Beta Technologies and Heritage Aviation.

50 The size of the staff running airport operations. They do everything from clearing snow at 1 a.m. to changing electrical systems on the runway to security procedures to inspecting the runways.

15 The number of airports served by nonstop flights from BTV: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City (Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK), Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. (Washington National and Dulles).

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Also visible from the windows: a crane that’s constructing Beta’s new 355,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, accessible off Route 2. It’s also on land owned by the airport; the company has a 75-year lease.

Until innovators like the ones at Beta figure out a way to cut carbon

It’s not a done deal yet, but Longo is hoping BTV will also benefit from Sen. Leahy’s last and largest earmark before he retires, giving the airport another $35 million in federal money to make some big changes. These include demolishing the first-floor concourse entirely and replacing it with a modernized secondfloor departure area.

Longo’s also got his sights set on redesigning the North concourse, which includes four gates that extend from a long, narrow central hallway. It doesn’t currently have nearly enough room for hundreds of passengers coming and going at once.

5 The carriers that fly out of BTV: Delta, American, United, Sun Country and JetBlue.

That work would also include upgrading the electrical systems so that planes parked at BTV can power up using the renewable energy generated by the Burlington Electric Department.

It’s all part of the master plan, Longo said, to make sure the airport keeps up with changes in the aviation industry.

“We’re building today what we’ll need for tomorrow,” he said. 

food+drink Sweet Spot

According to three of the four chil dren for whom Laughing Child Farm in Pawlet is named, the best part of growing up on a sweet potato farm is driving tractors. The abun dance of sweet potatoes on their daily menu, the siblings agreed, is less appealing.

In the household of farm owners Tim and Brooke Hughes-Muse, sweet potatoes are a year-round ingredient. The orange-fleshed tuberous roots infiltrate every recipe: puréed in pancakes and waffles, grated in muffins, diced in shepherd’s pie, subbed for chips in nachos, and even blended into smoothies and lattes.

Sitting at the dining table in the fami ly’s 1848 farmhouse, Magnolia, 10, nodded vigorously when asked if she’d had enough of sweet potatoes. “I’m sick of them,” she said.

“I only like the curly fries,” said Danny, 12. “They’re fun to eat.”

“I do get a little tired of eating them,” allowed Rowan, 16. “When you bite into a

FOOD LOVER?

muffin and it doesn’t have sweet potato in it, you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah!’”

This particular downside of special izing in one crop did not occur to the Hughes-Muses, both 41, when they decided about a decade ago to farm exclusively sweet potatoes. Their niche approach flies in the face of conventional wisdom, which suggests that Vermont vegetable farmers manage risk through diversity.

But the couple’s thoroughly considered decision has reaped rewards: Laughing Child Farm has become Vermont’s largest supplier of local sweet potatoes, extend ing their availability in stores from early fall through late spring, following a good harvest.

This year, the yield was excellent. From the beginning of September through midOctober, Laughing Child Farm’s team handdug close to 600,000 pounds of certified organic sweet potatoes from 30 acres in cultivation.

The farm hired a second full-time, yearround employee this fall to join Tim, Brooke and one other full-timer. Another part-time, year-round worker and about three dozen seasonal harvesters complete the crew.

The 2021 harvest of 370,000 pounds grossed $500,000, and the farm’s revenue has supported the family for the past five or six years, the couple said. They are proud to pay a livable wage. Harvesters made around $20 per hour this year; locals received mile age reimbursement and the others, free campground accommodations.

Laughing Child generally sells through nearly half of its inventory by the end of the year, the couple said, reflecting peak demand for the winter holiday staple. The farm will continue to supply sweet potatoes through at least May to stores across the state and another dozen or so in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York.

Among Laughing Child’s major accounts is City Market, Onion River Co-op in Burl ington. Margaret Kane, produce category

AGRICULTURE

coordinator, wrote by email that the farm “has taken things to a whole new level. They’ve completely changed the landscape of local sweet potatoes in Vermont.”

The Pawlet farm produces in such volume that it has enabled the co-op “to phase out non-local organic sweet pota toes in the winter,” Kane continued. “That’s something that would have seemed incon ceivable in years past.”

On October 13, the day after harvest wrapped up on the farm, a few crew members ran sweet potatoes through the washing equipment, while another pair finished cleaning a muddy tractor beside the red, slate-roofed barn.

Tim rolled up the door of one of three huge curing rooms, releasing a waft of hot, earthy air. Freshly harvested sweet potatoes spend a week to 10 days held at 90 degrees with 95 percent humidity. They then make the transition to 60-degree storage with the

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

Curly Girl Pops Owner Launches Taíno Kitchen

AREALLES ORTIZ’s rainbow umbrella and matching pop sicles are a staple of summer farmers markets around Vermont. Now, the CURLY GIRL POPS owner is launching a pop-up and catering business to bring additional bright flavors to the state.

With TAÍNO KITCHEN, based at her Montpelier home, Ortiz will cook her family’s Puerto Rican recipes, serv ing appetizers, rice dishes and desserts made with local ingredients. Her new business will make its debut at FOUR QUARTERS BREWING’s winter farmers market in Winooski on Sunday, November 13, and pop up at herbal tonic business ALKAME CO in Burlington’s SODA PLANT on Saturday, November 26.

“Taíno Kitchen is a way for me to connect, feel grounded, and feel good about sharing family recipes and food that tells a story about the history of Puerto Rico,” said Ortiz, who will continue to operate her popular plantbased popsicle business in the summer.

Taíno Kitchen will focus on tra ditional dishes she learned from her grandparents, such as barriguitas de vieja — a sweet, squash-based breakfast fritter with a name that translates to “old lady’s belly,” Ortiz said — and savory cassava fritters known as alcapurrias.

A root vegetable native to Puerto Rico, cassava is a historically significant crop for the island’s Indigenous Taíno people. Ortiz makes several versions of alcapurrias, including chickpea, mushroom and onion; ground beef with olives; and chicken with olives.

She will also serve empanadas, arroz con gandules, pionono and pastelón — which Ortiz called two “Puerto Rican take[s] on lasagna” made with sweet plantains — and desserts such as flan and budín.

Ortiz previewed her Taíno Kitchen menu last month at a private dinner in collaboration with Cabot’s NAMA FARM Now officially licensed to cater, she is taking orders for small companies and

private dinners of eight to 10 people, and she plans to appear at the Four Quarters market through the winter.

“I’m starting small and gravitating toward culture and finding a way to connect with ancestors,” Ortiz said. “As a solopreneur, I’m trying to be inten tional with my life but also share that with people.” m

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same humidity until they are washed and shipped to order.

Dressed in a cowboy hat and boots, plaid shirt, and belted jeans, with a bandanna around his neck, Tim looked more like a cattle rancher out west than a Vermont vege table farmer.

“He is the fanciest farmer in town,” joked Sita Watanabe, 24, a Manchester resident who had worked the final three days of harvest.

Tim did grow up on a cattle farm in Maryland and launched his first agricul

more sturdy walls of their current home as part of Tim’s compensation for working for the then-property owner. The HughesMuses would eventually buy the house and 39 acres in 2014 for $217,000 with the help of the Vermont Land Trust, but that seemed like an impossible dream at the time.

“We didn’t have a penny to our name or any equipment,” Tim said. “I was trying to quit farming, but Brooke said, ‘I like this place, and I want to be married to a farmer.’”

“I did say I wanted to live here,” Brooke clarified with good humor. “I said, ‘Let’s figure out how to make this work.’”

Tim had grown sweet potatoes in the

A New Leaf Finding familiarity at a relocated Dobrá Tea

Dobrá Tea got me through college chemistry. A sip of yerba maté still brings me back to sitting shoeless on one of the Burlington tearoom’s platforms, caffeinating and cramming for a big exam. I didn’t love the subject matter, but I loved the tea.

Dobrá moved from its longtime location at 80 Church Street in January, after the building was sold. Dobrá owner Lee Meiler and her team spent six months transforming the new space at 125 South Winooski Avenue, formerly Spirit Dancer Books & Gifts, and reopened in June.

When I stepped into Dobrá’s new location last week, it instantly felt familiar.

“It was important to us to bring a lot of the old Dobrá with us,” Meiler said.

Everything from tables to stools to kitchen equipment made the move, including the teahouse’s original door — now a divider between two seating areas — and its window inserts, which are now arches going into the platform areas.

“The biggest thing for us to get used to is having light,” Meiler said.

just haven’t had enough tea,” Meiler said with a laugh. “Tea is always very personal, so it’s about finding your pleasure point.”

With helpful guidance from the staff, I decided on Xiang Wei Tuo Cha ($7.25).

The dark, fermented Bird’s Nest Pu’er tea felt just right for fall, with mushroomy, forest-floor notes and a touch of natural sweetness. I also ordered a savory rice bowl ($10) from the short and sweet food menu, which is entirely gluten free and mostly vegan.

As I slowly sipped and then resteeped my tea — 15 to 30 seconds for each cup — I watched Dobrá fill up with individuals reading near the front window, pairs chatting quietly in the middle and small groups studying on platforms in the back. A few customers stopped in for chai or bubble tea to go.

tural enterprise — raising chrysanthemums — when he was 12, though he had no plans to farm for a living. He earned a degree in envi ronmental studies at the now-defunct Green Mountain College in Poultney, where he met Brooke, who had come from Missouri to study environmental business.

The two married in 2002, when Brooke was a junior and Tim was about to gradu ate. That summer, he started a two-year stint managing the college farm. By 2007, the couple were living year-round in a pair of yurts with their first two children, juggling jobs to pay down a combined $100,000 of educational loans.

“I remember wearing hats and gloves at the dinner table,” Rowan said with a shiver.

The farm’s name dates back to those days, the couple explained. The yurt’s walls let in not only the cold but also sound from outside. One day, Tim and Brooke were doing some business planning for their fledgling farming enterprise. Willow, their eldest, and Rowan were outside collecting eggs, “just giggling their heads off,” Tim said.

The sweet potato idea arrived a few years later, after Tim reluctantly concluded that diversified agriculture was not a sustainable way to make a living or to build a business that could pay its employees a fair wage. By then, the family was living within the

Hudson Valley, and he thought they could do well in the Mettawee River Valley’s rela tively warm microclimate and soils.

On a practical level, he said, vegetables pay back their up-front investment more quickly than most livestock do, and focusing on one crop streamlines equipment needs.

Another attraction of sweet potato culti vation was its schedule, which would allow Tim to work a full-time job off the farm for the first few years. The growing and selling seasons for sweet potatoes do not overlap, and the crop stores well, so the workload and cash flow are spread out over the year. Since sweet potatoes require little attention in the month before harvest, August would even allow for a family vacation.

The couple also saw a market oppor tunity. Several Vermont farms were

Sunlight streams into the shop’s big front window and filters through the long, narrow space to the cozy, dark platforms in the back. I chose a spot in the middle and started poring over the list of more than 100 teas. The menu is organized by type — white and yellow, green, oolong, black, Pu’er, tisane and herbal, chai, chilled, and more — and by country of origin.

“If you haven’t found a tea you like, you

I noticed many of the elements that make the new Dobrá feel the same as it did in its 18-year home on Church Street, from the décor to staple menu items to the gentle sounds of boiling water and clattering porcelain. But Meiler pointed out the biggest similarity I’d missed.

“The smell lets you know you’re here,” she said. “You can watch tension roll off people when they walk in and take that first big breath.” m

Dobrá Tea, 125 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington, 951-2424. dobrateavt.com

THEY’VE COMPLETELY CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF LOCAL SWEET POTATOES IN VERMONT.

Cutting Edge

Three questions for knife sharpener Linda Furiya

Linda Furiya wants to help people who suffer from what she calls “dull-knife shaming.” A guest offers to help with meal prep. You hand over a cutting board and a sharp knife. After a few minutes, the guest asks, “Um, do you have another knife?” By which they mean a knife that is actually sharp.

Enter Furiya’s alter ego, Madam Cutler, the face of the knife-sharpening service the Shelburne resident launched in the summer. Since early September, she has been popping up every Saturday at Healthy Living Market & Café in South Burlington to sharpen customers’ knives for $5 to $18, depending on size.

Madam Cutler & Co. is the latest of many food-related ventures for Furiya, 56. Highlights of her varied career include penning a column about Asian cuisine for the San Francisco Chronicle; authoring two recipe-laced memoirs, Bento Box in the Heartland: My Japanese Girlhood in Whitebread America and How to Cook a Dragon: Living, Loving, and Eating in China; teaching cooking classes; and running a frozen dumpling business.

If you have dull knives and oncoming hordes of holiday guests, Madam Cutler is ready to swoop in and save you from shame.

SEVEN DAYS: What inspired you to start Madam Cutler & Co.?

LINDA FURIYA: I’ve always known it was important to have sharp knives. I learned to sharpen knives from my dad when I was young. He would sharpen my mom’s knife, this one Japanese knife that no one else could touch or use or wash.

The knife-sharpening business came from the hobby of bladesmithing. I started doing that around 2018 when I took a course in Waterbury. A bladesmith actually forges steel, shapes it and grinds it into a knife. If you learn to make knives, you cannot help but know how to sharpen knife edges. Someone asked me if I sharpened knives because they knew I was a bladesmith.

SD: Do you have a favorite knife?

LF: My first good knife was a Global Santoku knife. I still have it. It fits my hand really well. I got it because Anthony Bourdain loved Global knives. He was a hot ticket.

SD: How frequently should knives be professionally sharp ened, and what can be done to keep knives in decent shape in between?

LF: It’s based on usage, but I would say twice a year. Ideally, once every quarter if you cook a lot. In between, you can use a honing rod — but you have to know how to use them. If you have a knife block, you probably have a honing rod that’s never been taken out. The problem is, you’ve got to use it after every use, before you put [your knife] away. And it doesn’t work if your knives are already dull.

The only way to keep your knives sharp is to not use them. Every time you use a knife, you’re bearing down on the edge, and tiny microscopic burrs are splintering out. The honing rod basically scrapes away those little tiny pieces.

When you bring your knife to me, I create a brand-new edge by grinding away the steel. It’s like getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist. Then, for a while, you floss and you brush really well. Basically, honing is like flossing. After a while, even if you keep flossing, you have to go back and get it done again. m

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

growing sweet potatoes in their mix, but they produced barely enough to meet the November and December demand. The Hughes-Muses cold-called buyers and said, “When you run out, call us,” Tim recalled.

The couple were aware of the risks of putting all of their sweet potatoes, so to speak, in one basket. But once he’d run the pros and cons, Brooke said, “You can’t tell Tim anything.”

“I do joke that I want to be the best at something no one else is in,” Tim said.

The couple had helping hands from

food+drink

family. He recalled how frugally they lived for many years out of college.

“They had a heavy debt load, but they had those loans paid off in a time frame no one does,” he said. “They have a lot of disci pline and a willingness to work hard.”

The farm’s season starts with staff driv ing down to North Carolina to pick up thousands of sweet potato slips, or starts. Laughing Child currently grows three varieties: Beauregard, Covington and Bayou Belle, the last of which has purple skin and is a favorite of City Market’s Kane.

Tim runs the farming operation while Brooke handles paperwork, sales and

neighbors, who lent them equipment and even land to get started before they bought the farm. In 2013, their second year, they had a complete crop failure. “We got 24 inches of rain in three weeks just after planting,” Tim recalled with a pained look.

Since then, harvests have been good to excellent.

When Philip Ackerman-Leist was a Green Mountain College professor, he worked closely with Tim on the college farm. Now a regional food and agriculture systems consultant, he’s remained close friends with the Hughes-Muses, who are neighbors with him and his family.

In the classroom, Ackerman-Leist generally counseled that diversification was the best option for vegetable farms. Laugh ing Child’s success helped change what he taught, he said in a phone interview.

The Hughes-Muses have built unparal leled skills in sweet potato cultivation and marketing, Ackerman-Leist said: “They’re top tier and recognized as the expert in Vermont and around the [state’s] edges.”

Ackerman-Leist said he has always been impressed by the couple’s energy, focus, and commitment to balancing farming and

bagging. She also teaches yoga and is a massage therapist. “Brooke works full time for the farm, and then she works again,” her husband said.

The laughing children pitch in, too. Rowan has become the family baker of sweet potato pies for the Laughing Child farmstand since her older sister left for college.

A few years ago, in response to customer demand, the farm started offering peeled, diced sweet potatoes. Twice a week for a couple of hours after school, the kids join the assembly line. They are paid $15 to $17 per hour, most of which goes into their college savings funds, their dad said.

While the younger generation of Hughes-Muses may not relish eating sweet potatoes at every meal, they seem pleased to contribute to the family business and build their confidence and skills.

“Today was the first time I disced a field,” Danny said, proudly describing the process of lowering a disc harrow into the soil and navigating the tractor down each row. “I only messed up once.” m

INFO

Learn more at laughingchildfarm.com.

When you hear the words “documentary” and “guns,” a book of poetry might not be the first thing to spring to mind.

Smith College professor Matt Donovan will visit Norwich Bookstore on Friday, November 4, to read from his fourth collection of poems, The Dug-Up Gun Museum. In it, Donovan shows that poetry is an endlessly malleable form, capable not just of documentary but of anthropology, portraiture, witness, elegy and, above all, dialogue.

Faced with America’s epidemic of gun violence, Donovan told me, he realized something: He didn’t know much about guns or the people who own them. Rather than sit with the paralyzing grief of our now-daily mass shootings and police killings, he decided to hit the road, crisscrossing the country to investigate gun culture and talk about guns with people from all walks of life.

culture BOOKS

Plowshares Into Swords

The heartrending, disturbing and blisteringly well-wrought poems that result take the reader to familiar places of grief, such as hospital emergency rooms and church support groups for survivors, as well as the unexpected. In search of understanding, Donovan witnesses and participates in some of America’s most surreal pageantry, such as BB gun reenactments of the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six raid that killed Osama bin Laden and a carnivalesque version of the 1944 D-Day landing in a Pennsylvania fi eld, where some participants cosplay as Harley Quinn and Gumby.

The book’s title refers to a museum Donovan visited in Wyoming, but it also serves as a potent metaphor for a nation that can never quite bury its history of violence.

SEVEN DAYS: Tell me about the book’s origins. And did you yourself grow up with guns?

MATT DONOVAN: The book grew out of deep concerns for the ongoing gun violence in America and our political polarization around this issue. It feels increasingly difficult to have real conversations around the topic of firearms, and I started to travel around the country in the hopes of initiating dialogue with people and trying to learn more. I didn’t grow up with guns, and during my travels I always went out of my way to admit that. It was interesting how that admission helped initiate conversation.

SD: What were those conversations like? I’m curious, since the speaker of the poems is clearly horrified at everything they encounter. At the surreal D-Day reenactment, for example, it’s hard to imagine a productive conversation about gun control! Have any of the people you spoke to read the book? If so, what were their reactions?

MD: As I started my travels, I learned that it’s a mistake to think in a monolithic way about gun owners and gun culture. At that D-Day reenactment, there were no doubt participants there who would adamantly oppose any change to our current gun laws, but I also spoke to people who argued for commonsense gun law reform or who advocated for mandatory gun-safety classes before any firearm purchase.

Meanwhile, during a trip to Las Vegas, I spoke with the owner of a machine-gun shooting range who used the “driver’s license” argument: that no one should purchase a weapon without proving they know how to safely operate one. I really welcomed those moments when my own assumptions and stereotypes were flung back at me.

In terms of your question about the book, though — no, I haven’t yet heard from anyone who was quoted in the book.

SD: I love how you show some of the absurd ways guns can be fetishized — or even literally worshipped, as the shotgun-shell crucifix you find makes clear. is level of obsession seems to be a peculiarly American phenomenon; where do you think that comes from?

MD: That fetishizing of firearms was something that I encountered again and again, from the [National Rifle Association] National Firearms Museum (which o ered, among many other things, guns engraved with topless women) to a shooting range gift shop [that sold] tank tops [on which] the phrase “Netflix and Chill” was replaced with the image of a pistol and “Netflix and Pew-Pew.” I don’t know if I can fully account for where this obsession comes from, but I’m deeply troubled by our inability to self-reflect upon our willingness to eroticize guns.

SD: at eroticization makes me think about how connected traditional masculinity is to guns. However, I chuckle imagining how the gun owners I know would react to being

Matt Donovan’s e Dug-Up Gun Museum delves into the American obsession with firearms

told they were eroticizing guns. Do you think the inability to self-reflect is connected to language? Do you think the liberal tendency to intel lectualize and moralize our way to gun reform might be a doomed cause and might actually be widening the distance between opposite sides of the spectrum?

SD: I want to say that poetry can be a way of creating a bridge, but I’m not sure. So much of the poetry world is geared toward academia, for example. As a professor yourself, do you ever worry that poets are preaching to the choir?

MD: I agree that there can be a risk of the echo chamber when it comes to art and poetry, but then, in response to this, I often think of Garland Martin Taylor, an artist whom I met during my travels and whose sculpture “Conversation Piece” [a 400-pound steel revolver stamped with the names of Chicago children killed by gun violence] is featured in the book. Not long after Garland made that piece, he realized that exhibiting it in Chicago seemed like preaching to the choir, so he loaded it into his pickup truck and traveled around the country, using it as a means of initiating dialogue. Art can be a means to begin those vital conversations.

SD: That brings me to your work as a librettist, which also addresses the gun issue. Tell me about Inheritance, the chamber opera you collaborated on. Have you always had a back ground in music, as well, or did you come to opera through poetry?

MD: That’s such an interesting question, and again, I’m not sure that I have new answers. But in terms of our failures of language, I think folks on both sides of the issue risk falling back on the same reductive, predictable responses that are worse than nonstarters in that they’re sure to foster mistrust and animosity.

Recently, I was interested to learn about the group 97Percent that was started by concerned gun owners who are seeking dialogue and common ground toward gun safety reform. To my mind, it sounds as if changing the conversa tion around guns is fundamental to their mission.

MD: For Inheritance , I was asked to collaborate with a creative team by a friend, the composer Lei Liang. I’d never written a libretto before and encountered an additional challenge when Lei asked me to determine the opera’s subject matter. Gradually, I stumbled upon the biography of Sarah Winchester, the heiress to the Winchester gun fortune. The legend goes that she was told by a psychic to move west and begin building a house that would need to be under constant construction, or the ghosts of those killed by her family’s guns would have revenge.

This struck me immediately as a powerful metaphor for America: that our response to our inherited violence is not active change, but rather the perpetual construction of a labyrinth-like, everexpanding home. After completing the opera, I just couldn’t relinquish that story and so adapted some of the elements of the libretto — including my own tour of the Winchester mansion — into the poem [“Portrait of America

Civics

Many people dislike the hate speech and so-called “other ing” that litter social media. The rampant rage and fric tion playing out like a boxing match on the national news are enough to bruise our confidence and make us wonder, Will my vote make a difference in the upcoming midterm elections?

Turn off the television and radio. Turn off all social media notifications. Give your brain a break from the hostility and pick up a comic book. Yep, a comic book. Not one by Marvel or DC, but a comic that couldn’t have come at a better time: Freedom and Unity: A Graphic Guide to Civics and Democracy in Vermont

In 30 colorful pages, the guide explains the past, present and future promise of democracy in Vermont. Created in

partnership with the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office, it’s the latest in a series of guides published by the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, including This Is What Democracy Looks Like: A Graphic Guide to Governance (2019) and Let’s Talk About It: A Graphic Guide to Mental Health (2020). Freedom and Unity was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

Vermont Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters told Seven Days that he and Secretary of State Jim Condos had been looking for a Vermont-specific guide to give to students touring the Statehouse.

“People are losing faith in government and elections,” Winters said. In addition, schools are focusing less and less on civics education, and teachers are looking for resources, he noted.

In a Zoom interview, Vermont Humanities executive director Chris topher Kaufman Ilstrup said the new guide is “a local version” of This Is What Democracy Looks Like. He helped promote Freedom and Unity because he “feels like Vermonters are losing touch with the basic principles of the demo cratic process,” he said. He wants the comic to help readers see democracy as a “set of tools to use in different ways,” he

continued, “not just what we see on Fox, CNN or MSNBC.”

“Comics are an inviting and acces sible medium,” CCS cofounder James Sturm added during the Zoom interview. They create a “welcoming space for engagement.”

Susan Clark, who is a Middlesex town moderator, coauthor of Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Deci sion Making Back Home, and a collabora tor on Freedom and Unity, could not agree more. “It’s about participation. It’s what we can do — we, not they,” she said by phone.

In addition to chronicling Vermont’s democracy, Freedom and Unity captures its challenges and contradictions. Ilstrup acknowledged that, since “we are not perfect here” in our brave little state, the guide speaks to “the places where we sometimes fall down.” Or, in Clark’s unadorned words, it recognizes “Vermont’s legacy, warts and all.”

“Freedom and Unity” has been Vermont’s state motto since 1788. But what does the motto really mean? And how do we approach its inherent contradiction? While the guide presents a cohesive story, highlighting the state’s long tradition of local democracy — town meetings, representation, and community efforts such as member-owned cooperatives and restorative justice centers — each page addresses the tension between freedom and unity.

“Each spread [i.e., two facing pages] is its own mini subject matter,” Sturm explained, or “a start of a conversation.”

For instance, one page lays bare how colonists declared Vermont a republic, ignoring the Abenaki presence on their homeland — a 10,000-year presence. Another page zeroes in on the state’s history of racism and eugenics. Readers are invited to reflect on such injustices and relate them to current events. How can we better inform ourselves about Black Vermonters, migrants, Indigenous people and other marginalized groups? How can we better recognize and support those who feel excluded in our otherwise progressive state?

Lest readers feel overwhelmed, Free dom and Unity is “a sequential form of storytelling, where readers can choose their own pace,” Dan Nott said during a conversation about his role as lead cartoonist on the comic. A CCS alumnus and comics history teacher there, Nott explained how he approaches the larger picture, whether it’s a comic book project or our government: He homes in, piece by piece, to learn and better understand the takeaway.

During the yearlong creation of Free dom and Unity, Ilstrup, Clark, Sturm, Nott

New Center for Cartoon Studies graphic guide explains Vermont’s democracy — past, present and future

In democracyVermont,is an ideal that shapes our government and communities, Where did these processes come from?

(way more than can fit in this comic).

a range of approaches for participation and representation

What challenges dotheseface?systems

whatAnddoes democracy ask of us?

Exploring these questions helps us understand how Vermont’s systems work today,

and other collaborators consistently asked questions such as “Is the book inclusive and accessible?” and “What’s missing?,” they said. Sturm, a self-declared “impa tient cartoonist,” said his role in creating the comic forced him “to listen to all voices, to be more patient.”

Ilstrup expressed great appreciation for Vera Longtoe Sheehan’s help in accu rately representing the Abenaki experi ence. An artist, activist and educator, she is executive director of the Vermont Abenaki Artists Association and founder of the Abenaki Arts & Education Center.

Ilstrup believes Vermont Humanities’ capacity for coalition building is “one of [its] superpowers” and that the comic is part of a larger public education campaign. He hopes organizations will find it useful for promoting hard conversations throughout Vermont about democracy.

middle school students, and the Vermont Department of Libraries is working with all 185 state public libraries to distribute it widely, with funding from the Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Community Foundation.

Civics education has suffered since standardized testing gained ground during the era of No Child Left Behind (2002 to 2015), according to a 2017 National Education Asso ciation story by Amanda Litvinov. The revival of book-banning debates, nationwide and in Vermont, likewise signals a democ racy in peril.

“We’re living in one of the most divisive times,” Winters said. But “if we know what happens behind the curtain,” he continued, we’ll learn more about how we can participate in democracy: attending public meetings, running for office, writing op-eds.

Last month, Vermont Humanities made the comic available at the Hispanic and Latino Heritage Celebration in Mont pelier and at the first Non-Fiction Comics Festival at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Ilstrup said. Sheehan handed out the comic at Indigenous Peoples’ Day events all over the state.

Other organizations will distribute the comic, including the Snelling Center for Government and the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Vermont Humanities will use the book at its camps to engage

Clark summarized the imperative perfectly: “Democracy is 365 days a year.” m

INFO

Freedom and Unity: A Graphic Guide to Civics and Democracy in Vermont, by the Center for Cartoon Studies, 30 pages. Free (online); $6 (paperback). cartoonstudies.org

Vermont Humanities virtual talk, “Slow Democracy and the Power of Community” with Susan Clark, Wednesday, November 2, 7 p.m. Free. vermonthumanities.org

IT’S ABOUT PARTICIPATION. IT’S WHAT WE CAN DO — WE, NOT THEY.

Best-Kept Secret

Nancy Marie Brown has trav eled to Iceland 30 times in 35 years. The stony, often desolate country calls to her in screams and whispers. On her trips to the far north island nation, the East Burke resident has sought people and places that can unravel the mysteries tantalizing her imagination and, as her latest book suggests, dominat ing most of her waking thoughts. Endear ingly, she is such an Iceland nerd.

Brown has written extensively on Nordic culture. The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman (2007) details the life of explorer Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir. According to the Icelandic folktales known as sagas, the legendary figure sailed to and from North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Brown thinks she’s a badass.

Brown also focused on northern Euro peans in popular histories such as Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them (2016) and Song of the Vikings: Snorri and the Making of Norse Myths (2012). But her latest book, Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland’s Elves Can Save the Earth, homes in on a different class of people.

Well, not “people” in the traditional sense. The book centers on Iceland’s hudulfólk , or “hidden people”: ancient, mythical elves who allegedly live inside special rock formations. Though their society sounds kind of like a real-life “Fraggle Rock,” it’s most definitely not a joke. (I bet Jim Henson was hip to the hudulfólk.)

Brown does not claim to have seen or had any direct contact with the hidden people. But she spends time with people who do, such as Ragnhildur Jonsdottir, a so-called “elf seer” who claims not only to see the elves but to talk to them and serve as a sort of ambassador to them. Brown describes encounters with Jonsdottir in which the latter herself appears as an almost mythical being, overflowing with serenity and magic.

Jonsdottir is hardly the only elf seer. As recently as the mid-2000s, Brown tells us, 50 percent of Icelandic people told researchers they would not rule out the existence of the hidden folk. Five percent claimed to have seen one. Those figures represent relatively small numbers of people, given Iceland’s population of

BOOKS

less than 400,000. But percentage-wise, they’re somewhat staggering.

Looking for the Hidden Folk is not some kind of literary “Ghost Hunters.” Brown does not tag along with crackpots bent on proving the existence of something that defies science and logic through pseudo scientific methods. Instead, she uses the hidden people as a sort of barometer for how we view, react to and engage with the natural world.

At no point does Brown make a defini tive statement about the reality of elves. Instead, early on, she asks a question: “What do we mean when we say some thing is real?”

The more we learn, Brown suggests, the more we tend to question our assumptions about what reality is:

I found myself wandering through

history, religion, folklore, and art, circling back to explore theology, literary criticism, mythology, and philosophy, stopping along the way to dip my toes into cognitive science, psychology, anthropology, biology, volcanology, cosmology, and quan tum mechanics. Each discipline, I

found, defines and redefines what is real and unreal, natural and supernatural, demonstrated and theoretical, alive and inert. Each has its own way of perceiving and valuing (or not) the world around us. Each admits its own sort of elf.

Drawing from all of those fields, Brown is hard to keep up with as she flits from topic to topic. She has so much to say in a relatively short number of pages (about 250 of actual content, not including gorgeous, full-color photography and references). At times, I lost the thread of the points she was making as she delved into the folkloric figures of Icelandic sagas and examined Icelandic history, both recent and ancient. I also struggled to find an explanation for the intriguing possi bility to which the book’s subtitle refers

THOUGH THEIR SOCIETY SOUNDS KIND OF LIKE A REAL-LIFE “FRAGGLE ROCK,” IT’S MOST DEFINITELY NOT A JOKE.

until very late in the text, when Brown underscores how our growing disconnec tion from nature is at the root of many of our problems. Essentially, elves represent what we’ve lost along the way.

To point out these moments of confu sion is not to say what Brown presents isn’t fascinating. She writes about how Christianity vilified the supernatural outside of the Holy Trinity. She quotes J.R.R. Tolkien, John Muir and William Shakespeare. Even Björk makes a cameo.

In one chapter, Brown discusses the genetic breakdown of modern-day Icelandic people. Men have a majority of Scandinavian DNA, while women are surprisingly Celtic dominant. “We can imagine Viking men — outlaws, on losing sides of battles — descending on Scotland and Ireland, wooing — or simply captur ing — a bride, then sailing on to settle in Iceland, where land was plentiful and free for the taking,” Brown writes.

To illustrate Icelanders’ resilience, Brown chronicles how the 2010 eruption of Eyjaf jallajökull crashed the country’s tourism economy. Iceland’s people rallied together, flooding social media with positive stories to encourage visitors. As Brown notes, by 2015, tourism had increased by 264 percent.

FROM LOOKING FOR THE HIDDEN FOLK: HOW ICELAND’S ELVES CAN SAVE THE EARTH

[W]e photographed lava crags and stacks and pillars, pillows of silver-green moss, caves and clefts and individual lichensplashed rocks. It was by turns warm and sunny and cloudy and cool, a fine summer’s day. The breeze was light — just enough to keep the gnats at bay. The land smelled of peat, with hints of salt and sea. We wandered about pointing out plants. I didn’t keep a list, but two hours later, back at my hotel when I wrote up my recollections, I remembered blueberry, crowberry, stone bramble, violet, dandelion, mountain avens, buttercup, butterwort, wood geranium, wild thyme, willow shrubs with pale fluffy catkins, and several kinds of grass, including sheep’s sorrel, which we tasted — it was sour as limes. Elves’ cup moss was the only sign of elves I saw.

What Brown does best is create mood and atmosphere, drawing out everything that makes Iceland compelling and unique. By the end of the book, I was convinced the island might be the most enchanting place in the northern hemisphere. (Note to self: Check flight prices to Iceland.) The author’s descriptions of the countryside are stagger ing — not just the images she conjures but the reactions they inspire in her.

Her description of Hofsjökull, the third-biggest ice cap in Iceland, is both haunting and enticing:

Lounging there, jotting notes, I felt eyes on my neck. I turned to see Hofs jokull outside the windows, stretching across three of them and around the corner like an intelligence looming between earth and sky, gleaming yellow-white unlike anything real — brilliant, misshapen, awake, a rising moon in wintertime … It drew me outside in spite of sore muscles.

Even when she walks directly away from the hulking mound, Brown can’t

shake its presence. Eventually, she finds she’s walked in a circle and is staring straight into its implacable menace.

Brown makes clear that Icelanders take the hidden folk seriously, whether they believe in them or not. Everything from public works projects to family farming can potentially encroach on the elves’ homes, and when there’s a conflict, she reports, the elves usually come out on top. They’re given leeway and respect. Would we treat the Earth differently if we thought of the entire world as one big elf apartment complex?

Ultimately, Brown seems to want to use Looking for the Hidden Folk to shake readers out of their comfort zones, encour aging us to slough off the protective layers of skepticism we have about the world. If we’re open to it, we might catch a glimpse of something magical. m

INFO

Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland’s Elves Can Save the Earth by Nancy Marie Brown, Pegasus Books, 328 pages. $28.95.

Gazing Skyward

“If people can see art on their way to the grocery store or work, it adds a deeper dimension to living,” said Rutland artist Lopi LaRoe. “Public art impacts people’s daily life in a really positive way.” Those who live, work and shop in Rutland now have a new daily dose of art in their lives.

On Saturday, a small but cheerful crowd gathered for the official unveiling of Rutland’s latest public art installation, LaRoe’s “Beginner’s Mind.” The mural is located in a can’t-miss spot on the exterior of city hall at 1 Strongs Avenue, across from Rutland Plaza.

Rutland Mayor David Allaire said at the unveiling that, although he was unsure about the prominent location when first

asked for permission, he was very glad he’d agreed.

“Since the community has had a chance to look at it, I’ve heard nothing but positive reactions,” Allaire said.

LaRoe, also known as LMNOPI, has painted more than 20 murals, from New York City to California, and several in Vermont, where she has lived since 2018. She began painting murals and other street art to rebel against elitist gallery spaces. “It’s a way to reclaim the commons for the people,” LaRoe told Seven Days

“Beginner’s Mind” features a simple but stunning image of a young girl looking skyward toward numerous flying books and geometric shapes. “This mural is designed to uplift,” LaRoe explained. “It

has the message of ‘Read more books’ and ‘Geometry is cool,’ but it is also just an infu sion of hope into the community.”

LaRoe enjoys asking others what they think her art represents. “Someone told me it made them feel like it was freeing their inner child,” she recalled. “I was, like, ‘Wow that’s beautiful. Mission accomplished.’”

Edie Place, 9, of Proctor is the subject of the mural and the daughter of one of LaRoe’s friends. “When I paint people that I love, I feel the emotions of that come through really strongly,” LaRoe said. “I think that people feel that when they see the portrait. They feel the love.”

LaRoe chose this design because she was looking for something that everyone could enjoy. There’s no inherently political

message. The flying books don’t have titles, which LaRoe said was intentional. “People have been arguing way too much,” she noted. “Right now, we need something unifying.”

The Chaffee Art Center partnered with LaRoe to locate the mural in Rutland. “It’s wonderful for us to be able to be a part of projects like this that are bringing art to the public,” Chaffee executive director Sherri Birkheimer Rooker said. “It’s accessible to everyone, all the time.”

“Beginner’s Mind” also aligns with work the Chaffee does with youth in the community. Art can provide respite for kids who are having a hard time, Birkheimer Rooker said. “You can escape into art. With Lopi’s mural, you escape right into it.”

The mural was sponsored by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s Better Places grant program. Born during the pandemic, the program provides coaching, local fundraising support and matching grants to communities that crowdfund projects aimed at revitalizing their downtowns and village centers.

The program’s goal is to “foster social connection, economic opportunities and bring energy, excitement and enthusiasm to our main street after a couple years of disruption from the pandemic,” the department’s planning and outreach manager, Richard Amore, said. There’s no better marketing or tourism draw than investing in vibrant places, he said: “Artists can be a key to revitalizing main streets. They can be the first ones to revitalize and bring that resurgency and resilience.”

After the unveiling, the crowd lingered to enjoy the warm, sunny day and gaze at the mural. Daylin, 7, and Grady, 10, of Rutland came to the event with their parents. Both kids said they love drawing, and Grady said LaRoe had inspired him to become an artist one day.

Of “Beginner’s Mind,” Daylin said, “I really like it. It’s cool.” m

INFO

Learn more at lmnopi.com.

as a Friday the 13th Flashlight Tour of the Winchester Mystery House”] that appears in the book.

SD: Your website hints at a new project in the works, “Missing Depart ment.” What stage are you at in the process?

MD: I’ve been collaborating on that project with my wife — the artist Ligia Bouton

— for the past year and a half, and we’re in the process of finalizing an exhibition of the work for A.P.E. [Ltd.] Gallery in Northampton, [Mass]. Ligia discovered a regular column of missing person ads in pulp Western fiction magazines from the early 20th century. The ads read like novels in haiku form, with these compressed raw lines of desire and longing, resentment and love.

We started responding to a selection of the ads: She would make visual art using the original pages of the magazine in which the ad appeared, and I would apply erasure poetry techniques to a single story from within the issue. I created those pieces not long after complet ing the manuscript of  The Dug-Up Gun Museum , and it felt cathartic to spend time erasing the text of narratives that frequently involved gun violence — in order to find a different kind of voice, and

human engagement, tucked there within its words. m

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO

The Dug-Up Gun Museum by Matt Donovan, BOA Editions, 96 pages, $17. The author reads with Nathan McClain on Friday, November 4, 7 p.m., at the Norwich Bookstore. Free. norwichbookstore.com

art

Print Matters

Rockwell Kent’s spare, iconic 1928 wood engraving “Flame,” now on view in the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum of Art, can have the effect of engraving itself on the viewer’s mind. A nude on his back, one bent knee in the air and the other folded over a ledge in the lower foreground, reaches a yearning hand to the night sky. The vertical gesture is backlit, so to speak, by a single flame, sinuous and towering, that emanates remarkably fine lines of light for the medium.

Kent (1882-1971), an admired American landscape painter in his time, found public fame and commercial success with his wood engravings and lithographs, which he began creating in 1919.

The Fleming now hosts a selection of these mainly black-andwhite works, titled “Rockwell Kent: Prints From the Ralph C. Nemec Collection,” that range from Kent’s first wood engraving to a 1948 lithograph.

Nemec, of Deer Park, N.Y., chose the trav eling show’s 49 works from his collection, the world’s largest, to illustrate the artist’s breadth of work, said the collector by phone.

In addition, the exhibit includes a reproduction of a pen-and-ink poster by Kent from the Fleming’s archive, which the artist made to look like a wood engrav ing; a selection of prints by Vermont printmakers of the era including Ronald Slayton; Works Progress Administrationsponsored instruction boxes on how to make wood cuts, wood engravings and lithographs; and illustrated books from UVM’s Special Collections, including special editions of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, Voltaire’s Candide and Kent’s own books, all illustrated by him.

Alice Boone, Fleming curator of educa tion and public programs, wrote the numerous panels. Part of the enjoyment of the show is reading about Kent’s work as assessed by Boone, who has a doctor ate in English and comparative literature and curated an exhibition at the New York Public Library on Candide in 2010.

Kent, born in Tarrytown, N.Y., trained with the Art Students League of New York during college summers and eventually left an architecture degree program to attend

His sensibility was decidedly leftist. Kent joined the Socialist Party in 1904 at age 22, supported workers’ causes and was later blacklisted as an alleged communist by senator Joseph McCarthy. He took up wood engraving and other reproducible

image making for the democratic poten tial these mediums offered to make art accessible. In this, Kent was of his time; all over the world, in the 1910s and ’20s, revolutionary artists were turning to print making to reach the masses, from Germans protesting war to Latin Americans cele brating labor to Russian avant-gardists experimenting with constructivist prints.

Yet Kent’s art often features solitary

Übermensch-type figures conquering the wilderness by individual effort alone. (He read widely, including Friedrich Nietzsche and Henry David Thoreau.) For the cover of the July 1937 issue of the leftist magazine New Masses, Kent created “Workers of the World Unite!” — a strikingly dynamic engraving showing a barefoot worker wielding a shovel against the encroaching flames and swords of management. But, as Boone points out in the panel, “Where are his union members, his comrades?”

A more representative image of the era, included in the exhibit, is “The Breadline” (1931) by Vermonter Clare Leighton. The wood engraving shows a packed line of hungry workers extending into the distance. Masses of people were not Kent’s thing; even his cover of a 1936 report on the Vermont Marble Company workers’ strike centers on a single, sturdy but worried-looking mother holding an infant and leading three more children — an image that echoes the style of Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco.

After visiting the artists’ colony on Monhegan Island, Maine, in 1905, Kent began traveling to remote places for extended stays, including Newfoundland, Alaska, Tierra del Fuego and Greenland — sometimes with family members. (He was married three times.)

He transformed the illustrated travel diaries he kept into adventure memoirs. In N by E , his 1930 account of the first Greenland trip, Kent included three wood engravings titled “Bowsprit,” “Starlight” and “Home Port.” These were from a series of 12 advertisements he made for the American Car and Foundry Company to promote its new line of yachts. As illustrations of his own travel, they are merely suggestive, showing a single, muscular nude hugging a bowsprit in starlight or balanced on it wearing only thin pants. Boone asks reasonably in the panel, “Can one be naked outdoors on the North Sea?”

More pertinent to his travels are Kent’s stylized lithograph depictions of Inuit community members from his 1931 to ’32 trip, published in 1962 as Greenland Jour nal. With their broad torsos and foreshort ened legs that come to a knifelike point, the figures in “Greenland Hunter” and

“Greenland Courtship,” both from 1933, resemble their weaponry.

Between trips, Kent created magazine illustrations, industry advertisements, Christmas cards, book plates and more. (He produced some at his Arlington, Vt., farm, his home base from 1919 to 1925.) Some of his wood engravings combine commercial techniques with leftist messages. “Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of Liberty,” a 1945 lithograph of a muscled man in pants shouting to alert others to a fire, includes its own title in the image, like an adver tising motto. The saying has been linked to preserving democracy for the many over the few.

Likewise, Kent’s industry adver tisements take on the qualities of his art. “Big Inch,” a 1941 litho graph, was part of a series commis sioned by the U.S. Pipe & Foundry Company in New Jersey. In it, a vast emptiness similar to Kent’s stark wilderness settings becomes the background to a scene in which two powerful-looking men, each working alone, manipulate a huge, suspended section of pipe.

“I find it so fascinating to think about an artist who had strong leftist political sensibilities making illustra tions for U.S. Steel the same year as the strike,” Boone commented by phone. Asked whether that presented a contradiction, she said, “I think that any good Marxist will tell you that contradiction is what drives things forward. That churn of opposites seemed to be really generative of his creativity.”

After the McCarthy hearings,

NEW THIS WEEK

chittenden county

f SAM BARTLETT: “Low Stakes: Plywood Cutouts and Everyday Comix,” cartoonish 2D sculptures in wood by the artist, musician and stuntologist. Artist talk: Thursday, November 3, 5-6 p.m., in Cheray Science Hall 101, followed by reception, 6-7 p.m., in gallery. November 3-December 3. Info, wmentor@ smcvt.edu. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester.

barre/montpelier

‘CELEBRATE!’: A holiday show featuring works by more than 70 SPA member artists, displayed on all three floors. November 9-December 28. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre.

f ‘HOOKED IN THE MOUNTAINS XX’: The biennial exhibition of the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild features nearly 200 rugs and wall hangings in contemporary and traditional designs and multiple mediums, along with classes, vendors and demonstrations. Reception: Wednesday, November 2, 5-8 p.m., with featured artists Sandra Grant and Grace Collette. November 3-6. $15 per day; $20 for multiday pass. Info, 309-4472. Alumni Hall Gallery, Vermont College of Fine Arts, in Montpelier.

f JAMES SECOR: “Chirping in the Thickets,” an exhibition in two parts: “Creature Habits,” miniature paintings made for the children’s book Off the Wallabies & Other Creature Habits; and “Freedom Fries,” paintings featuring fast food, religion, consumption, energy production and lots of American flags. November 4-27. Info, 552-0877. The Front in Montpelier.

stowe/smuggs

f ‘GEMS & GIANTS’: An annual exhibition of large and small artworks including landscapes, abstracts, florals, portraits and still lifes by gallery members. Reception: Saturday, November 12, 1-3 p.m. November 3-December 24. Info, 644-5100. Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville.

upper valley

f JANA FLYNN: “Blind Spot,” silk-screened works on paper that reflect the Brooklyn-based artist’s confrontation with unmanageable thoughts. Reception: Friday, November 4, 5-9 p.m. November 4-27. Info, 347-264-4808. Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.

northeast kingdom

f ‘TIME OF CHANGE’: A group exhibition featuring works in a variety of mediums by 21 local artists. Reception: Friday, November 4, 5-7 p.m. November 4-January 4. Info, melmelts@yahoo.com. The Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville.

brattleboro/okemo valley

f ‘WHERE ARE WE?’: An exhibition of works in mul tiple mediums by Andrea Stix Wasserman, Elizabeth Billings and Evie Lovett, the inaugural Climate Change Artists in Residence at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Reception: Saturday, November 5, 5-7 p.m. November 4-December 19. Info, 257-0124. Michael S. Currier Center, Putney School.

ART EVENTS

ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER: Sales of donated items from local artists and businesses support the nonprofit Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction. Online, Friday, November 4, 5-7 p.m. Info, 295-5901.

ARTIST TALK: GLYNNIS FAWKES: The cartoonist shares and discusses some of her drawings for Eric Cline’s work-in-progress book, 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed, as part of Vermont

Humanities’ First Wednesdays Series. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, Wednesday, November 2, 7 p.m. Free. Info, glynnisfawkes@gmail.com.

CELEBRATE VERMONT ARTISTS: An exhibition of local artists with a spotlight on Anne Cady’s colorful landscapes. Art Works Frame Shop & Gallery, South Burlington, Friday, November 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, artworksvt@gmail.com.

‘COLLECTIONS IN FOCUS: HARVESTS AND GARDENS AT THE FLEMING MUSEUM’: Kristan Hanson, new Fleming curator of exhibitions and collections, leads a discussion of artwork and objects from the per manent collection that illustrates the long histories of plant cultivation and study. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, Wednesday, November 2, 12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-0750.

‘COLLECTIONS IN FOCUS: INSPIRED BY…’: The museum’s Learning Studio presents pairs of artworks from the permanent collection that are in conversation with each other across time and place. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, Wednesday, November 9, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-0750.

INK PAINTING DEMONSTRATION: Korean artist Park Dae Sung shows how he uses the ancient medium, in conjunction with his current solo exhibition at the

‘No Ocean Between Us’

A current exhibition at the Middlebury College Museum of Art offers a refresh ing jolt to viewers whose exposure to art history has hewed to Europe and North America. “No Ocean Between Us” spotlights, as its subtitle explains, “Art of Asian Diasporas in Latin America & the Caribbean, 1945-Present.” While cultural crosscurrents exist in every corner of the globe, the particular fusions of Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian traditions with those south of the U.S. border is fascinating to contemplate.

Specifically, museum text notes, the 70 works include paintings, works on paper, sculptures, installations, and mixed-media pieces created by artists from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Tanaka trained as a potter in both Japan and Peru, his installation “Cloud/Nube” consists of two wall-mounted video screens and 36 white paper origami crabs suspended from the ceiling. The latter are brightly illuminated and cast dancing shadows on a nearby wall.

In 1994, wall text explains, Tanaka began “a series of installations based on concepts of memory, journey and displacement.” One of the videos tells how he came to use the crab as a migra tory symbol: At the Cerro Azul beach in Cañete, Peru, an obelisk commemorates the arrival, in 1899, of the first Japanese. Around its base lie thousands of dead crabs, washed in by the tide. The origami serves as a metaphor “for the Japanese grandfather he never knew.”

Internationally known Cuban artist Wilfredo Lam (1902-1982), who died in Paris, was of Congolese, Cuban and Chinese descent.

Heavily influenced by African artistic and spiritual traditions, he created paintings and sculptures that also reflected European modern masters, including Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso.

Lam’s lithograph included in this exhibit, “Retrato,” depicts the head and torso of a dark-skinned woman with braided hair and a featureless face.

The Chinese ancestry of Panamanian artist Manuel Choy Loo (born 1981) shows in his 2016 assemblage “Ma-Chok.” An archi tectural construction utilizing 175 oversize mah-jongg tiles, it could be an homage to Lego. The artist is known as SUMO in the Panama City graffiti scene and has worked in that medium internationally.

EVENT OR EXHIBIT

Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College. A catered reception and book signing follows. RSVP at avagallery. org. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., Wednesday, November 2, 4 p.m. Info, 603-448-3117.

ONGOING SHOWS

burlington

‘ANYWHERE FROM ANYWHERE’: A collection of drawings by more than 20 artists. Through December 1. Info, hello@thekarmabirdhouse.com.

Karma Bird House Gallery in Burlington.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: Photographs by Greg Nicolai and Caleb Kenna (Main Street Connector, ACC 3); relief monotypes by Erika Lawlor Schmidt

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

“No Ocean Between Us” was developed and organized for tour by International Arts & Artists in collaboration with the Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States, both in Washington, D.C.

An overlay to the exhibition is the artists’ interaction with major, borderspanning art movements since the mid-20th century.

The very name of one of the artists, Carlos Runcie Tanaka (born 1958), indicates a mixed heritage — in his case, Peruvian, English and Japanese. Though

ART LISTINGS AND SPOTLIGHTS ARE WRITTEN BY PAMELA POLSTON. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.

Several paintings in “No Ocean Between Us” fit squarely in the abstract expressionist camp, and brilliant color fairly bursts from each of them. One example: the aptly titled “Verde” (pictured) by Tikashi Fukushima (1920-2001). Born in Japan, he immigrated to Brazil after World War II and worked for a time on a coffee plantation. His artwork gradually evolved from traditional landscapes, still lifes and portraits to bold, gestural abstractions. As wall text explains, Fukushima infused his work with the “colors of Brazil’s tropical land scape” and “the economy and fluidity of line of Zen Buddhist painting.”

Vast oceans do actually separate the continents, and émigrés often find themselves unwelcome in a new land. But this exhibition serves as a timely reminder that cultural integration can bring us the best of all worlds.

“No Ocean Between Us” is on view through December 11.

GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE!

PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY FRIDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

(Main Street Connector); acrylic paintings by Sandra Berbeco (McClure 4 and EP2); oil and mixed-media paintings by James Vogler (EP2); and oil paintings by Julia Purinton (BCC). Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through January 23. Info, 865-7296. University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

ART HOP JURIED SHOW: Artwork by more than 70 artists submitted for competition in the 30th annual South End Art Hop; juried by David Griffin. Through December 10. Info, 859-9222. The Vaults in Burlington.

BILL MCDOWELL: “Roxham Road to North Elba,” color photographs that challenge viewers to consider complex ideas around borders, migration, privilege and racism. MATT LARSON: Acrylic paintings by the local artist. VALERIE HIRD: “The Garden of Absolute Truths,” small interactive theaters, hand-drawn animated videos, paintings and drawings by the Burlington artist that utilize familiar childhood stories to examine current power inequities. Through January 28. Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington.

‘BLACK FREEDOM, BLACK MADONNA & THE BLACK CHILD OF HOPE’: Designed by Raphaella Brice and created by Brice and Josie Bunnell, this mural installed for Burlington’s 2022 Juneteenth celebration features a Haitian-inspired image of liberation. Through June 18. Info, 865-7166. Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.

‘CALL AND RESPONSE’: Artworks by 16 members of the Howard Arts Collective, each inspired by a piece in the museum’s collections. ‘DARK GODDESS: AN EXPLORATION OF THE SACRED FEMININE’: Largescale black-and-white photographs by Shanta Lee, based on the inquiry, “Who or what is the Goddess when she is allowed to misbehave?” ROCKWELL KENT: Prints by the iconic American artist (18821971) from the Ralf C. Nemec collection. Through

December 9. Info, 656-0750. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, in Burlington.

CLARK RUSSELL: “Riddleville,” an alternate universe featuring thousands of still-life scenes constructed of metal structures and found objects, from family heirlooms to dumpster discards. Through November 19. Info, 652-4500. Amy E. Tarrant Gallery in Burlington.

‘CONNECTIONS’: Howard Center Arts Collective presents an art installation of painted mailboxes and mosaics, inviting viewers to reflect on the benefits of old-fashioned mail delivery and to consider whether mailboxes have become relics of the past. Through July 31. Info, artscollective@howardcenter.org. Howard Center in Burlington.

DANA PIAZZA: “Processing,” acrylic abstract drawings on paper, panel and canvas that follow algorithms conceived by the Massachusetts artist. Through December 3. Info, 324-0014. Soapbox Arts in Burlington.

‘GUARDIANS OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS’: An exhibition in which young explorers can roam forests, navigate streams and become backyard adventurers while learning to become thoughtful stewards of the land. Through January 15. Info, 864-1848. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington.

‘MORE THAN A MARKET’: An exhibit celebrating local, immigrant-owned markets in Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski, featuring an installation that re-creates the feel of a busy market, as well as wall panels with archival and contemporary photographs. Third floor. Through December 23. Info, 989-4723, cbarrett@historicnewengland.org. O.N.E. Community Center in Burlington.

‘ROXHAM ROAD’: An exhibition of landscape photographs by Bill McDowell taken along the U.S.-Canada border around an irregular crossing

near Champlain, N.Y., with a sound installation by Jenn Karson. Through November 4. Info, 656-0550. Francis Colburn Gallery, University of Vermont, in Burlington.

SAM WYATT: “Writing on the Wall Project,” paintings that explore graffiti as a reflection of this moment in American society and culture, curated by Burlington City Arts. Through December 7. Info, 865-7296. Burlington City Hall.

‘VOICES OF ST. JOSEPH’S ORPHANAGE’: Photographs and stories of abuse and recovery from the Catholic-run Burlington orphanage, which was home to more than 13,000 children from 1854 to 1974. Presented by the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Restorative Inquiry and the Vermont Folklife Center. Through December 16. Info, 656-2138. Billings Library, University of Vermont, in Burlington.

chittenden county

‘ABENAKI CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VERMONT COMMUNITY’: A series of murals designed by Scott Silverstein in consultation with Abenaki artists Lisa Ainsworth Plourde and Vera Longtoe Sheehan and members of Richmond Racial Equity; the 10 panels celebrate the Abenaki origins of practices still important to Vermont culture. Through May 31. Info, radiate.art.space@gmail.com. Richmond Town Hall.

BRECCA LOH & KRISTINA PENTEK: Abstracted land scape paintings and color photographs, respectively. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through February 14. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne.

DEB PEATE: A solo exhibit of 20 whimsical paper animal heads featuring William Morris textile designs and vintage jewelry. Through December 31. Info, dpeate@yahoo.com. Healthy Living Market & Café in South Burlington.

ON VIEW THROUGH NOVEMBER 15TH , 2022

TIDAL

A SOLO EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK BY

ELLEN GRANTER

FALL GALLERY HOURS:

Sunday + Monday 11AM – 4PM

- Saturday 10AM – 5PM

by

One Mill St and 6 Merchant’s Row, Middlebury Vermont

802-989-7419

MARILYN JAMES: “Old and New Paintings,” landscapes and more by the cofounder of the Essex Art League. Through November 6. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho.

‘OUR COLLECTION: ELECTRA HAVEMEYER WEBB, EDITH HALPERT AND FOLK ART’: A virtual exhibition that celebrates the friendship between the museum founder and her longtime art dealer, featuring archival photographs and ephemera, a voice recording from Halpert, and quotations pulled from the women’s extensive correspondences. Through February 9. Info, 985-3346. Shelburne Museum.

ROB HITZIG & BEAR CIERI: Abstract geometric paintings on birch panels (Skyway) and photographs from the artist’s Quarry Survey (Gates 1-8). Through December 6. Info, 865-7296. Burlington International Airport in South Burlington.

SOUTH BURLINGTON SHOWCASE: An exhibition of more than 60 paintings, photographs and mixedmedia works by local artists Gin Ferrara, Jeffrey Pascoe and Michael Strauss. Through December 13. Info, gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov. South Burlington Public Art Gallery.

barre/montpelier

ANNE DAVIS: “Fresh Paint,” new paintings by the Vermont artist. Through December 9. Info, anne@ annemadecards.com. Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.

AXEL STOHLBERG: “House,” collages and sculptures that consider the concepts of dwelling and place. Through December 30. Info, 279-5558. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery in Montpelier.

artCRYSTAL STOKES: “Pieces of You,” portraiture in light and dark acrylic paint by the central Vermont artist. Through November 15. Info, 595-5252. Center for Arts and Learning in Montpelier.

‘STORIES FROM RED OCULUS’: In-process video of stories collected from visitors to Calza’s “Red Oculus” installation in 2021 and 2022, plus a new video by Kelly Holt. MONTPELIER VIDEO SALON: A screening of 12 short videos, selected in response to the theme “We Wonder.” Through November 19. Info, 224-6827. Susan Calza Gallery in Montpelier.

ROBIN CROFUT-BRITTINGHAM: Large-scale watercolor paintings that address themes of nature, extinction and mythology. A portion of sales support the center’s mission of connecting people with the natural world. Through December 31. Free. Info, 2296206. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

‘THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR EYES’: Watercolors and drawings by 19th-century Norwich alumni William Brenton Boggs and Truman Seymour depicting scenes in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Through December 16. Info, 485-2886. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, in Northfield.

stowe/smuggs

2022 LEGACY COLLECTION: An exhibit of works by 16 distinguished New England landscape artists plus a selection of works by Alden Bryan and Mary Bryan. Through December 24. Info, 644-5100. Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville.

MFA INVITATIONAL: A student exhibit featuring recent work by MFA candidates. Through November 18. Info, 635-1469. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Northern Vermont University, in Johnson.

TARANEH MOSADEGH: Paintings by the IranianAmerican artist based in Halifax, Vt., and Brooklyn, N.Y. Through November 30. Info, 635-2727. Vermont Studio Center in Johnson.

‘WHEN THE WELL IS DRY: An exhibition featuring 11 artists who explore the interconnection of environ ment, climate change, culture and community. In partnership with Visura. Through December 10. Info, 253-8358. The Current in Stowe.

mad river valley/waterbury

f SAM COLT: Recent work in grassello on masonite, using oils, gold leaf, gouache, charcoal, shellac and varnishes. Reception: Friday, November 11, 6-8 p.m. Through November 19. Info, 244-7801. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery in Waterbury.

VERMONT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY AWARDS SHOW: An exhibition of paintings by society members, juried by nationally acclaimed watercolor artist Antonio Mass, president of the American Watercolor Society. Thirteen awards will be presented. Through December 16. Info, 496-6682. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield.

middlebury area

‘ADDISON COUNTY COLLECTS’: An eclectic exhibition of objects and personal stories from 36 area collectors, celebrating the local and global community. ‘ADDISON COUNTY KIDS COLLECT’: A continually growing exhibition of photos of Addison County children with their personal collections. ‘ARTISTS IN THE ARCHIVES: COMMUNITY, HISTORY & COLLAGE’: Collage prints by 23 artists from seven countries that reflect upon the idea of community in the 21st-century world. Curated by Kolaj Institute director Ric Kasini Kadour. ‘THE ELEPHANT IN THE ARCHIVES’: An experimental exhibit reexamining the museum’s Stewart-Swift Research Center archival collections with a critical eye toward silences, erasures and contemporary relevance. CHUCK HERRMANN: “Sculptures of Perseverance,” eight poignant works by the Shoreham wood carver created in response to the ongoing Ukrainian tragedy. Through January 7. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury.

BONNIE BAIRD: “Tethered,” new landscape paint ings by the Vermont artist. Through November 30. Info, 877-2173. Northern Daughters in Vergennes.

ELLEN GRANTER: “Tidal,” new paintings exploring the New England coast and the wildlife that inhabits it. Through November 15. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls in Middlebury.

KATHLEEN KOLB: “Fragile/Familiar,” contemporary realist paintings that explore light, a sense of place and community, and the artist’s relationship with the landscape of working Vermont. Through November 8. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury.

‘NO OCEAN BETWEEN US: ART OF ASIAN DIASPORAS IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN, 1945-PRESENT’: Some 70 important works in a variety of mediums by Latin American and Caribbean artists of Asian heritage that demonstrate how the work emerged from cross-directional global dialogues between artists, their cultural identities and interac tion with artistic movements. Through December 11. Info, 443-5007. Middlebury College Museum of Art.

rutland/killington

ALTHEA BILODEAU LAMB & JUDITH REILLY: “Common Threads,” fabric and fiber art. Through November 6. Info, 247-4956. Brandon Artists Guild.

‘NEW DATA/NEW DADA’: An open-call exhibition of 40 collage and 3D assemblages that explore, echo, translate or reinvent Dada, by artists from the U.S. and Canada. ‘THE STORY’: An open-call exhibition of contemporary photographs whose visual narratives evoke a response in the viewer, by artists from Vermont, New York, California and Texas. Through November 20. Info, 325-2603. Stone Valley Arts at Fox Hill in Poultney.

upper valley

‘BEYOND WORDS’: A group exhibition of bookinspired art by invited artists in the Connecticut River Valley region. Through November 30. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery in White River Junction.

‘I NEVER SAW IT THAT WAY: EXPLORING SCIENCE THROUGH ART: This self-curated exhibition of mixed-media works by artists, sculptors, photogra phers and crafters on the museum staff considers science from fresh perspectives. Through January 31. Info, 649-2200. Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich.

JENNIFER MAHARRY: Fine art wildlife photography by the Woodstock, N.Y., artist in celebration of VINS’ 50-year anniversary. Through November 30. Info, 359-5000. Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee.

‘LOCAL COLOR’: The 11th annual group exhibition showcasing the pleasures and colors of autumn with painting, photography, mixed-media, sculpture and ceramics. Through November 6. Info, 457-3500. Artistree Community Arts Center Theatre & Gallery in South Pomfret.

‘MENDING THE SPACES BETWEEN: REFLECTIONS AND CONTEMPLATIONS’: Prompted by a vandalized Bible, 22 artists and poets respond to questions about how we can mend our world, find ways to listen and work together. Through November 30. Info, 649-0124. Norwich Historical Society and Community Center.

northeast kingdom

‘1,111 COPPER NAILS’: A 36-year retrospective of the Bread and Puppet calendar. Through December 31. Info, breadandpuppetcuratrix@gmail.com. Hardwick Inn.

ANN CREAVEN: New photographs of the Northeast Kingdom. Through November 13. Info, 525-3366. The Parker Pie in West Glover.

‘COMING CLEAN’: An exhibition that considers bathing practices throughout time and across cultures, including religious immersion and ritual purification, bathing as health cure, methods of

CALL TO ARTISTS

ARTS CONNECT AT CATAMOUNT ARTS

JURIED SHOW: Artists are invited to submit up to five works in any medium created within the last five years. Accepted work will be displayed December 14 through March 12 at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury. Submission details at catamountarts.org. Online. Through November 13. $35. Info, mstone@catamountarts. org.

BCA ELEVATION GRANT: Burlington City Arts announces a one-year pilot funding opportunity designed to support regional artists and artist groups with grants between $500 and $5,000. The goal is to help address the basic challenges of art making at any stage of the creative process. Find details and application at burlingtoncityarts.org. Deadline: November 15. Online. Info, cstorrs@burlingtoncityarts.org.

CALL FOR EXHIBITORS: Enter your group show, traveling exhibit or new body of work for the 2022-23 season in our community gallery. We seek thought-provoking exhibits that examine the human experience. CAL is an interdisciplinary art center that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion in all forms. Submit artwork at cal-vt.org. Deadline: December 31. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier. Info, 595-5252.

CALL FOR MEMBERS: Become part of a thriving hub for music and art education. CAL is committed to enhancing the cultural life of central Vermont through its founding member organizations, as well as embracing individual artists, musicians and other nonprofits in a collaborative and welcoming community. Register at cal-vt.org. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier. Through December 31. $36 annually. Info, 595-5252.

GINGERBREAD CONTEST: Bakers, schools, organizations, businesses, families and individuals of all ages are invited to submit their gingerbread creations, which will be displayed at the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland December 3 to 23. Details and application at chaffeeartcenter. org. Online. Through November 23. $10. Info, info@chaffeeartcenter.org.

HOLIDAY ARTISAN GIFT SHOW: The Chaffee Art Center in Rutland is seeking exhibitors to show and sell their wares on November 4 and 5. Find details and application at chaffeeartcenter.org. Online. Through November 2. Info, info@chaffeeartcenter.org.

MEMBERS’ ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBITION & SALE: AVA members are

washing in extreme environments, and much more. All kinds of bathing and scrubbing implements are on display. Through April 30. Info, 626-4409. The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover.

EMILIA OLSON: “Painting With the Past,” oil on canvas paintings incorporating objects from the artist’s childhood. Through November 27. Info, 5332000. Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro.

MICHELE JOHNSEN: “Do You Believe in Magic,” intimate landscape paintings. Through November 19. Info, 748-0158. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury.

brattleboro/okemo valley

ALISON MORITSUGU: “Moons and Internment Stones,” watercolor paintings of rocks gathered by the artist’s grandfather while he was imprisoned at the Santa Fe Internment Camp during World War II paired with oil paintings of the moon. Through February 12. ‘WE FEEL OUR WAY THROUGH WHEN WE DON’T KNOW’: A group exhibition of works by Mariel Capanna, Oscar Rene Cornejo, Cheeny Celebrado-Royer, Vessna Scheff, Gerald Euhon

invited to submit work for the upcoming show November 25 through December 30. Details and application at avagallery.org. Deadline: November 7. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H. Info, 603-448-3117.

SPARROW HOLIDAY MARKET: Sparrow Art Supply in Middlebury is looking to “deck the gallery” with art, jewelry, knitwear, prints, posters and more. Entries will be reviewed in four categories: artwork, stationery and paper goods, gift Items, and ornaments. Deadline: November 8. Details and entry instructions at sparrowartsupply.com. Online. Free to enter; $5 per category if accepted. Info, info@sparrowartsupply.com.

VERMONT STUDENT WILDLIFE ART

CONTEST: The Vermont Wildlife Coalition’s Education Fund and Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro invite Vermont students in grades 7 to 12 to submit wildlife art in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, ink or pastel. The top 40 will be exhibited in February; prizes awarded. Details and application at vtwildlifeeducationfund.org. Deadline: December 9. Online. Free. Info, 434-3135.

WELCOME BLANKET PROJECT: The public is invited to submit handmade blankets and welcome notes to gift to refugees and new Americans. Both will be displayed in an upcoming exhibition before distribution. Welcome Blanket was created by Jayna Zweiman, cofounder of the Pussyhat Project. Instructions and drop-off locations at themillmuseum.org. Heritage Winooski Mill Museum. Through November 30. Info, info@themillmuseum.org.

‘WHAT MAKES A LAKE?’: Another Earth is seeking submissions from Vermont artists and current or former residents of photography, cyanotypes, drawings, writing, video stills, field recordings and historical images that are in some way connected to Lake Champlain. Those accepted will be included in a visual guide to what makes a lake, published in spring 2023. Details and submission instructions at another-earth.com. Online. Through January 31. Info, anotherearthsubmissions@gmail.com.

‘WHIR, CLANK, BEEP’: An upcoming show is about machines: simple levers and pulleys, farm equipment, robots, computers and AI. Kinetic sculpture, working machines, 2D and 3D depictions of real and invented machines, and sculptures made from machine parts are all welcome. Deadline: December 10. Info at studioplacearts.com. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10; free for SPA members. Info, 479-7069.

Sheffield II and Lachell Workman, guest-curated by Michael Jevon Demps, that address themes of com munity, memory, dissonance, displacement, intimacy and loss. Through February 12. JUDITH KLAUSNER: “(De)composed,” sculptures of objects usually considered ruined, meticulously crafted from a child’s modeling medium, expressing a reevaluation of the under-appreciated. Through March 4. MADGE EVERS: “The New Herbarium,” works on paper using mushroom spores and plant matter as artistic mediums. Through February 12. OASA DUVERNEY: “Black Power Wave,” a window installation of drawings by the Brooklyn artist, inspired by images of Chinese Fu dogs, the cross and the Yoruba deity Èsù. Through May 6. RENATE ALLER: “The Space Between Memory and Expectation,” an immersive, site-specific installation of large-format landscape photographs of mountains, glaciers, trees, ocean and other natural landscapes, plus an assemblage of lichen-covered rocks from the West Brattleboro home of artists Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason. Through February 12. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

‘THE AMENDMENT XXIX RIGHT TO PRIVACY SHOW’: A collection of artworks signifying artists’ personal expression on a Right to Privacy amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Artists include: Clare Adams, Nancy Fitz-Rapalje, Corinne Greenhalgh, Yevette Hendler, Marcie Maynard, Roxy Rubell and Jeanette Staley.

Through December 10. ALISSA BUFFUM: The mixedmedia painter and sculptor is the first recipient of the gallery’s Working Artist Program, which provides studio and exhibition space. Visitors are welcome to experience her art-making process during gallery hours. Through November 28. Info, 289-0104. Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls.

BARBARA CAMPMAN: “In Passage,” painting, assemblage and mixed media by the Vermont artist. Through November 6. Info, 387-0102. Next Stage Arts Project in Putney.

LEON GOLUB: Nearly 70 expressive figurative paintings that explore man’s relationship with the dynamics of power, spanning the American artist’s career from 1947 to 2002. LOIS DODD: A survey of some 50 paintings by the American artist from the late 1950s through last year that depict places she lives and works, from rural Maine to New York City. Through November 27. Info, vermont@hallartfoundation.org. Hall Art Foundation in Reading.

manchester/bennington

‘MANY AMERICAS: ART MEETS HISTORY’: More than a dozen artworks and installations that use divergent histories as a point of departure to address present-day issues. Curated by Ric Kasini Kadour. Through November 27. Info, 362-1405. Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester.

‘PARKS & RECREATION’: An exhibition of paint ings past and present that explores the history and artistic depictions of Vermont’s state parks and other formally designated natural areas. Contemporary works on loan from the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville. Through November 6. ‘PERSPECTIVES: THE STORY OF BENNINGTON THROUGH MAPS’: A collection that shows the changing roles of maps, from those made by European colonists showcasing American conquests to later versions that celebrate civic progress and historic events. Through December 31. ‘THE WALLOOMSAC EXHIBITION’: Objects from the historic former inn and the museum’s permanent collection. Through December 31. NORTH BENNINGTON OUTDOOR SCULPTURE SHOW: The 25th annual outdoor sculpture show at locations around town, as well as more works by regional artists inside the museum. Through November 12. Info, 447-1571. Bennington Museum.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS: Ten artists exhibit their work in a variety of mediums: Barbara Ackerman, Justin Kenney, Arnela Mahmutović, Evan McGlinn, Julie Merwin, Heather Palecek, Robert Ressler, Ron Vallario, Katrin Waite and Ann Young. Through November 6. Info, 362-1405. Yester House Galleries, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester.

‘THE UNCIVIL WAR AT HOME’: A photographic exhibition that addresses women’s rights and the fight for abortion rights, Black Lives Matter, gay rights and other human rights issues in the U.S. Through November 11. Info, rhondaratray@gmail. com. The Left Bank in North Bennington.

randolph/royalton

‘VERMONT VISTAS’: Seasonal views by six regional printmakers: Jeanne Amato, Matt Brown, Janet Cathey, Carol MacDonald, Maureen O’Connor Burgess and Jeannie Podolak. Through November 5. Info, 728-9878. Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph.

online

f ‘PRIDE 1983’: Castleton University Bank Gallery presents an online exhibition of photographs and other documents of Vermont’s first Pride March on June 25, 1983, in Burlington; organized by the Vermont Folklife Center and the Pride Center of Vermont . Reception: Friday, November 18, 6-8 p.m. Through January 15. Info, 1-800-639-8521.

CAMPUS THEATER MOVIE POSTERS: The Henry Sheldon Museum Archives presents a virtual exhibit of posters and other ephemera from Middlebury’s former movie theater, which opened in 1936. It was later converted to the current Marquis Theater. Through January 7. Info, 388-2117. Online.

outside vermont

‘DIANE ARBUS: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1956-1971’: Nearly 100 black-and-white prints shot by the late American photographer primarily around New York City.

Through January 29. ‘SEEING LOUD: BASQUIAT AND MUSIC’: The first large-scale multimedia exhibition devoted to the role of music in the work of the innovative American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, organized in collaboration with the Philharmonie de Paris museum. Through February 19. ‘VIEWS OF WITHIN: PICTURING THE SPACES WE INHABIT’: More than 60 paintings, photographs, prints, installations

and textile works from the museum’s collection that present one or more evocations of interior space.

Through June 30. SABRINA RATTÉ: “Contre-espace,” digital artwork by the Montréal artist that creates an interaction between architecture and landscape, projected onto the façade of the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion from dusk to 11 p.m. Through November 27. SHARY BOYLE: “Outside the Palace of Me,” a multisensory exhibition that explores how identity and personality are constructed in the age of social media. Through January 15. Info, 514-285-2000. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts.

‘MADAYIN: EIGHT DECADES OF ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN BARK PAINTING FROM YIRRKALA’: The first major exhibition of Aboriginal Australian bark paintings to tour the U.S., a contemporary interpretation of an ancient tradition of Indigenous knowledge expression. Through December 4. f

PARK DAE SUNG: “Ink Reimagined,” 23 ink paintings, some on view for the first time in the U.S., by the renowned Korean artist; curated by Sunglim Kim, Dartmouth College associate professor of art history. Artist talk: Thursday, November 3, 5-6 p.m., for the annual Dr. Allen W. Root Contemporary Distinguished Art Lectureship. Through March 19. Info, 603-646-3661. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H.

‘THE RESILIENCE OF TRAVELERS’: A juried selection of images from the annual Global Rescue photo contest. Through November 5. NICK LAMIA, ELIZABETH NELSON & KATYA ROBERTS: Paintings and installation in themes that signify water, landscape and ecology. Through November 12. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. m

Kent’s passport was revoked in 1950 — he had to bring his case to the U.S. Supreme Court to get it back — and his work began to fall out of favor. He ultimately donated hundreds of his works to the Soviet Union, which awarded him the Interna tional Lenin Peace Prize in 1967.

“He was, for all intents and purposes, canceled,” said Nemec by phone. “But he’s back.” The collector, who counts a line of china decorated with Kent’s Moby-Dick illustrations among his holdings, said Kent prints now sell for between $2,000 and $10,000.

Kent’s work has deeply influenced the field of graphic design, Boone said, and generated a whole group of “Rockwell Kent superfans” that she learned of when they visited the exhibition.

“Whether people know Rockwell Kent or they’re just getting introduced,” Nemec said, “they’re always impressed.” m

music+nightlife

S UNDbites

What’s the Name Again?

When you really think about it, band names are pretty weird. Yeah, maybe the BEATLES became the biggest cultural game changer since baby Jesus, but in the beginning, they were just four kids who named their little rocker gang with a pretty stupid pun. Many great acts in music history have truly awful names. I still laugh when I recall that PEARL JAM isn’t only one of the worst band names of all time; they actually changed their band’s name from Mookie Blaylock to Pearl Jam, as if that were an improvement.

Some music icons were originally known by another, often worse, handle. R.E.M. were going to call themselves Cans of Piss. The SUPREMES first played under the moniker the Primettes, a nod to the TEMPTATIONS, with whom they often shared the stage and were themselves initially called the Primes. Even worse? DESTINY’S CHILD used to call themselves Girls Tyme, for fuck’s sake. Hot tip: Don’t let your parents name your band.

The important thing to remember is that many of these bands came to realize that their name didn’t reflect them. Burlington indie rockers GUY FERRARI found themselves in that very circumstance. After a few years of gigging hard around New England, the post-punk-leaning band decided that a pun on a meme-worthy celebrity chef

and a famous sports car maybe didn’t represent its music.

“When we initially named the band Guy Ferrari, honestly, I just really liked the way it sounded phonetically,” singer and rhythm guitarist NINA CATES revealed as she and band cofounder and drummer ZACK JAMES chatted with me at a local co ee spot. “I didn’t really think about all the Guy Fieri memes or any of that.”

“Search engines are tough, but people’s brains are even tougher to bypass,” James added. As the band members began to lay the groundwork for a new album and tour, they realized it was time to make a change. They redubbed themselves ROBBER ROBBER —

though anyone looking for meaning deeper than that of their previous name will be disappointed.

“It was that sort of thing where we just said, ‘Hey, let’s go with Robber Robber and not think about it anymore,’” James said. “We knew this was the point to change it and still get away with doing it without all the hassle.”

“Our old name just meant nothing to me,” Cates said. “When Zack and I started the project, we really didn’t take it very seriously. But we are now, so we needed a change to mark that.”

James and Cates originally hail from Brattleboro, where they were part of teen-rock outfit the SNAZ. After

the group of school friends went their separate ways in 2017, both James and Cates headed to Burlington for college. James found himself in high demand as a drummer, joining psych-rockers the DEAD SHAKERS in 2018. He also launched his solo endeavor, DARI BAY

Yet James and Cates never stopped making music together; they released the first Guy Ferrari EP in 2019. Their 2021 EP, Caldera, raised eyebrows across the Burlington scene, and before long the band seemed to be on every other rock bill in town.

The members’ experience with the Snaz, as well as James’ tenure in multiple Burlington bands, helped the group hit the ground running.

“I love this scene,” Cates gushed. “I feel so grateful to be part of it, especially since some of our best friends are making music that inspires us so much.”

One of those friends, LILY SEWARD of indie rock outfit LILY SEABIRD, introduced Robber Robber to BENNY YURCO. The longtime GRACE POTTER guitarist and record producer is currently working with Robber Robber on a forthcoming EP, about which Cates and James are extremely excited.

“It’s such a cool progression, the way we write music now,” Cates said. “Zack and I write it all together, which was di cult at first because we had to learn how to tell each other the truth about whether we liked something or not. It was tricky, but I love it. It feels like we really have ownership of these songs in ways we didn’t when we were younger.”

Though Cates said Robber Robber’s new music is “more cerebral and a little post-punk,” James clarified that they’re not obsessed with crafting a specific sound.

“We don’t want to get hung up on all the layers and influences,” he asserted. “We just want to get down to the core idea of what we’re doing and make the kinds of sounds that we like. It’s really pretty simple.”

To break in the new name, Robber Robber will hit the road this winter. They’ll be touring with JEREMY MENDICINO’s electronic project the GIFTS and Brattleboro indie rock group THUS LOVE, who recently signed a deal with record label Captured Tracks. Fans waiting to hear the new Robber Robber EP can head to YouTube to check out the band’s performance at FUTURE FIELDS studios. The “Bell the Cat” series features three songs performed by the band, including slowburn rocker “Slalom.”

So, everyone, meet Robber Robber — a band you can now enjoy without being reminded of memes! More importantly, it’s a band that’s evolving by the day.

Songs of the Sea

Afro Indigenous ensemble the GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE bring the music of Belize and Honduras to Randolph on Saturday, November 5, at the Chandler Center for the Arts. The group, which has played in more than 30 countries on five continents, is dedicated to keeping alive the musical traditions of Garifuna culture, which traces its origins to the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent.

Prior to the concert, Garifuna musicians are participating in a weeklong residency that will take them to schools in East Corinth, Sharon, Tunbridge, Chelsea, Randolph, Braintree and Claremont, N.H. The musicians will speak about their music, Garifuna culture, island history — including that of Joseph Chatoyer, who led the revolt against British colonizers in 1795 — and the displacement of their people to Honduras and Belize. And perhaps they’ll mention that, in 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared Garifuna language, music and dance Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Garifuna’s residency is a project of the Chandler Center and Barnardbased BarnArts Center for the Arts, a partnership that shows great potential for both organizations.

“Working together, we are both stronger,” said BarnArts director of music programming and development Chloe Powell. “This kind of collaboration allows us to bring in

artists for community programs that otherwise would be out of reach for both our organizations.”

For more information and tickets, visit chandler-arts.org.

BiteTorrent

The JESSE TAYLOR BAND are back with a new single. “Unavailable” is a shot of indie rock energy full of big guitars, pounding drums and Taylor’s distinctive, often soaring voice. The track is about crushing on someone who is off-limits. Taylor leads her band through a hook-laden jam bristling with riffs as she laments wanting someone so “unavailable, so relatable, unattainable / You don’t even know what you’re doing to me.” Recorded with ROUGH FRANCIS drummer/producer

URIAN HACKNEY and mixed and mastered by JOE EGAN, “Unavailable” is ferociously catchy. Check it out now, streaming on all services.

MILTON BUSKER & THE GRIM WORK have released a new single and video.

“Internet Famous,” from the band’s LP Made of Stars (see review on page 68), is a jaunty indie rock jam about trying to become an influencer. The video, directed by BRANDON ST. CYR, features local actor ROB DONALDSON trying out a host of options to achieve fame on the web. Whether skateboarding, chugging juice or dropping a remote control in a blender, Donaldson’s character attempts to get as many likes as possible while Busker sings hooks such as “All your bases are belong to me.” m

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CLUB DATES music+nightlife

live music

WED.2

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

The California Honeydrops, AJ Lee & Blue Summit (funk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $25/$30.

Dear Nora, the Most Wanted, Addie Herbert (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$12.

Hearts Gone South (country) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Irish Sessions (Celtic folk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Jazz Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Matthew Mercury, the Apollos, Cooked (indie rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

THU.3

Alex Stewart Quartet and Special Guests (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Blues Jam (blues) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Brett Hughes (country) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 6 p.m. Free.

Cam Gilmour Band (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. $5.

Daniel Nunnelee, Noah Pope (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Fabulous Wrecks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Freeway Clyde (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Geoffry Kim Trio (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Grace Palmer, Socializing for Introverts (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Milton Busker & the Grim Work, Troy Millette and the Fire Below (indie rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.4

Back in Black: The True AC/ DC Experience (tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$25.

The Barn Rats (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

SAT.5 // THE OUTLAWS [ROCK]

SUN.6

The Apollos, Kennedy Park and End User (rock) at Merchants Hall, Rutland, 7 p.m. $10.

Seth Gallant (singer-songwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Starcrawler, the Dead Shakers (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $15/$18.

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

Trampled by Turtles, Amigo the Devil (folk rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $39.50.

MON.7

Courtney Marie Andrews, the Dead Tongues (singersongwriter) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $17/$20.

TUE.8

Blue Darling, Reid Parsons (jazz, Americana) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10.

Southern Comfort Hailing from Tampa, Fla., the OUTLAWS are a first-generation southern rock band. The band was one of the first acts signed by Clive Davis in 1972 to his then-new label, Arista Records. Known for a threeguitar attack and country music-style harmonies, the Outlaws spent their heyday touring with the likes of the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Outlaws split up multiple times following personnel changes and tragic deaths, but founding member Henry Paul re-formed the group in 2008, reestablishing the Outlaws as a premier live act. The band plays on Saturday, November 5, at the Pickle Barrel nightclub in Killington.

Blu DeTiger, Tiffany Day (pop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$23.

Bruce Sklar Jazz Trio (jazz) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Chris Powers (singer-songwriter) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Danny & the Parts (Americana) at Stone’s Throw Pizza, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

Dave Keller Band (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

The Dirty Looks Band (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Dub Apocalypse, Dana Colley (reggae) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $15.

Hot Pickin’ Party (bluegrass) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

McCaffrey, Coane & Rowell (country) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Mean Waltons (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Michael Oakland, Amanda Ukasick (singer-songwriter) at the Underground, Randolph, 8 p.m. $15.

Nintendoods (video game music) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

No Fun Haus, Ursa & the Major Key, LACES (dance, rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. $5.

Peter Day (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Phil Abair Band (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Young Jesus, Hello Shark, Latchkey Kids, A Box of Stars (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5.

SAT.5

AJ Lee & Blue Summit, the Stockwell Brothers (bluegrass) at Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $22 /$25.

Amber deLaurentis (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Bleeding Hearts Family Band (bluegrass) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. free.

Chris Lyon Band (folk) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Content (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Dave Keller Band (blues) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Dead Sessions Lite (Grateful Dead tribute) at Moogs Joint, Johnson, 9 p.m. Free.

Dopapod, Strange Machines (jam) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$25.

Fabian Rainville (singersongwriter) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jake Whitesell’s Cannonball Quintet (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Joel Cage (rock) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Mike Schwaner (rock) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

The Outlaws (rock) at Pickle Barrel, Killington, 7 p.m. $20.

Ray Vega and Friends (jazz) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Spose, Jarv (hip-hop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$23.

SUPAMAN (hip-hop) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $30/$35.

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

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

David Karl Roberts (singersongwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5/$10.

Dead Set (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

The Happy Fits, Daisy the Great, Phoneboy (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $20/$25.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Pony Hustle (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Kip de Moll (singer-songwriter) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Scout Gillett, Lily Seabird, Hope Deluca (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $10/$15.

WED.9

Andy Frasco & the U.N., Little Stranger (rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$22.

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

Irish Sessions (Celtic folk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Jazz Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Oaksie (folk rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Phinneus Sonin (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

Ween Wednesday: Knights of the Brown Table (tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

djs

THU.3

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, noon. Free.

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

FRI.4

ATAK (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

SAT.5

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Nice Up! (reggae) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Reign One (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

TUE.8

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.2

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.3

Open Mic (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at the Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.4

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.6

Open Mic Night with Justin at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m.

TUE.8

Open Mic with D Davis (open mic) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.9

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.2

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

Weird & Niche (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5.

THU.3

Comedy Wolf: Open Mic (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Mothra! A Storytelling/ Improv Comedy Show (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5.

Shapel Lacey (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

FRI.4

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

TUE.8

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

WED.9

Comedy Jam (comedy) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Standup Class Performance (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

THU.3

Burlington Housing Trivia Night (trivia) at Burlington Beer, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia & Nachos (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.4

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Babes Bar, Bethel, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.5

Let’s Go Girls: Shania Twain Tribute Drag & Burlesque Tribute (drag) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $15.

NEKaraoke with Crystal Matthew (karaoke) at the Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

MON.7

Trivia with Brian (trivia) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

TUE.8

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Night Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. m

Milton Busker & the Grim Work, Made of Stars

(SELF RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

As Milton Busker watched his father slowly pass away from cancer at a respite house, he worried that he wasn’t feeling anything. Doomscrolling on his phone, Busker saw a steady stream of the motivational memes that often populate social media. They made him feel less uplifted than defensive.

“The positivity can be downright oppressive,” the Burlington-based singer-songwriter wrote on his web page ahead of releasing his latest LP, Made of Stars. “What if I don’t want to hope for the best right now?”

Busker thought of astrophysicist Carl Sagan’s oft-quoted declaration that humans are “made of star stu .” Sitting at his dying father’s bedside, he found the sentiment didn’t necessarily fill him with hope; rather, it inspired a grim thought.

Noah Kahan, Stick Season

It’s ironic how our closest relationships, such as those with our parents, siblings and partners, are the ones that inspire both our harshest criticism and our fiercest loyalty. The same is true of hometowns. I complain about mine, but at the first hint of derision from others I leap to its defense. When I’m home, I am restless, and when I’m far from home, I long to return.

Noah Kahan’s latest record, Stick Season, highlights this essential love-hate relationship. He wrote it during the pandemic from his mom’s house in Stra ord, where the musician spent his early years. His unflinching lyrics pick apart myths and fairy tales about small-town Vermont and the people who live there, including and especially himself in the album’s most yellable line — “I’m

“If we’re made of stars,” Busker sings on the title track, “why aren’t we surrounded by a fiery glow, burning out our eyes?”

That intertwining of beauty and sadness becomes a kind of emotional thesis for the sophomore record by Busker and his band, the Grim Work. Recorded with Matthew Mercury guitarist and Busker’s cousin Jeremy Mendicino at the helm, Made of Stars takes the alt-rock-leaning pop of Busker and the Grim Work’s 2018 selftitled debut and homes in on the nitty-gritty.

On this record, the hooks are a little more focused, and Busker goes for more variety in his writing. For instance, the second single off the album, “Internet Famous,” exists between the literate indie rock of the Shins and glossier pop terrains, showing us an increasingly slick, skillful side of Busker and his band.

A lot of that skill arises from Busker’s complete trust in his band. “Imagine having access to a machine that will

mean because I grew up in New England” — from the song “Homesick.”

While city slickers might view the Vermont countryside as an idyllic escape, Kahan paints it as quicksand in “Homesick.” “I got dreams, but I can’t make myself believe them / spend the rest of my life with what could have been / and I will die in the house that I grew up in / I’m homesick,” he sings. By the time he repeats that last word, the listener understands that Kahan is twisting the standard definition: He’s sick of being at home.

But that dissatisfaction is balanced with other emotions, most potently nostalgia, on this album. “All My Love” and “Strawberry Wine” reminisce on loves lost; “Still” captures the di culty of goodbyes; “Orange Juice” welcomes the return of a newly sober loved one. The album’s pop-folk sound feels suited for a casual gathering of close friends who’ve piled their Blundstones at the door.

The most popular song, the one that

unfailingly make whatever you put into it better,” he wrote on his web page. Featuring John Treybal on bass, David Ball on guitars, Jom Hammack on mandolin and Dave Simpson on drums, the Grim Work provide Busker with a wide platform, ranging from the power pop of “Good Guys With Guns” to the gentle beauty of the Americana ballad “My Old Friend.”

What’s most impressive about Made of Stars is the clear emotional theme that runs through all 12 tracks. After a few listens, it becomes clear that Busker isn’t giving in to despair, even though sadness haunts songs such as “Earth and Air” like a lingering specter. Rather, he’s doing the work of a proper troubadour by finding silver linings — acknowledging the power of not being alone on “Around,” for instance, or fighting the darkness on “Bright Blue Days.” The record covers a broad emotional range without resorting to the pithy slogans and empty axioms of pop culture memes.

Made of Stars is available on major streaming services. Milton Busker & the Grim Work celebrate the new album with a release show on Thursday, November 3, at 14th Star Brewing in St. Albans.

catapulted the album to debut at No. 14 on the Billboard charts and Kahan to sell out shows at Higher Ground and nearly every other venue on his U.S. tour, is the title track, “Stick Season.” With chords simple enough for a novice guitar player (read: me), it was begging to be covered, and the singer-songwriters of TikTok complied, with Kahan enthusiastically replying to and reposting their interpretations.

But the album’s paradoxes are best captured on the final track, “The View Between Villages,” which describes Kahan driving a familiar rural road and experiencing wild emotional swings. One moment “It’s just me and the curve of the valley / And there is meaning on Earth, I am happy.” Then the instrumentation intensifies as Kahan’s car rolls into town and he’s reminded of all the versions of his past that he lived there. Tension rises: “It’s all washin’ over me, I’m angry again,” he sings. Kahan retreats back onto the road, seeking the peace he had felt. It’s a love song, if a brutally honest one. For some, “home” will always be a loaded word.

Stick Season is available on all major streaming services.

on screen

Tár

The Oscar buzz is strong around Tár , a drama set in the world of classical music from writerdirector Todd Field (Little Children) that is currently playing at the Savoy Theater, Essex Cinemas and Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas. Cate Blanchett won the Venice Film Festival’s Volpi Cup for her performance in the title role, which Field wrote for her.

Like any serious award contender, Tár has drawn some backlash to go with its acclaim. One critic professed herself shocked and disappointed when her postfilm googling revealed that the protagonist wasn’t a real person. I went to Tár to learn how a fictional character could elicit such strong reactions.

The deal

Lydia Tár (Blanchett), the first female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, is as close to a celebrity as anyone gets in classical music. As the film opens, a rapt audience at the New Yorker Festival watches the American-born EGOT (winner of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards) speak about her upcoming live recording of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.

Tár’s fashion and manners are impeccable. Her family — she’s married to a German violinist (Nina Hoss) — is adorable. Her purring voice drips erudition. She has a track record of uplifting aspiring female conductors. A loyal young assistant (Noémie Merlant) caters to her every need.

But behind the scenes of this beautifully controlled performance, a storm is brewing. Not every young woman Tár mentored benefited from the experience. When the truth comes out, the tempest could destroy her.

Will you like it?

I grew up watching my composerconductor father wield the baton at various Manhattan concert halls, and I expected Tár to present a simplified, glamorized version of a maestro’s life, just as Hollywood has treated every other kind of artist. I was wrong.

While I can’t vouch for the accuracy of every detail, Field has created what feels like a classical music procedural based on exhaustive research. Early on, during a freighted conversation between Tár and

MOVIE REVIEW

an envious colleague (Mark Strong), it’s clear that the filmmaker won’t spoon-feed us information. We must listen carefully — not just because Tár is prone to using phrases such as “epistemic dissident” but because the dialogue bristles with seemingly throwaway lines that pay o later.

Tár is an intimate portrait not just of an individual but of a power structure centuries in the making. Our protagonist, who began her career as an outsider and (it’s hinted) even something of a rebel against the classical establishment, has thrived to the point where she is now at the pinnacle of that structure. With a hubris familiar from countless #MeToo stories, she takes advantage of time-honored hierarchies to get what she wants.

It’s a downfall story as old as Greek tragedy and as new as yesterday’s headlines, but Blanchett gives it a fierce new energy. We may not know the complete catalog of Tár’s misdeeds, but we do know her, because the actor makes two things clear: Control is what Tár craves most, and she’s almost always performing, even in seemingly candid moments with her wife.

Actors love to play fellow performers, and the role is a natural fit for Blanchett’s imperious presence. But she never goes for the easy thrill of pushing Tár into the

realm of camp. Even when the maestro comes unhinged, she does it with characteristic panache.

Structurally, Tár su ers from an imbalance: Field follows a long, painstakingly detailed buildup with a whirlwind of a denouement and epilogue in which the film veers into dark satire, heavy-handed metaphor and even moments of gothic horror. I wished there had been more time to see all of the story’s threads spool out, but that’s not a criticism so much as an indication of just how riveted I was for the film’s hefty run time.

Some viewers seem troubled that Tár depicts a woman — a self-described “U-Haul lesbian” — who is capable of committing improprieties. But, as we all learned in high school English, power corrupts, and this is a story about power, both artistic and institutional.

Art has a notoriously selfish side, as Tár acknowledges when she addresses pesky questions about the composers she reveres: Should we think of Mahler as someone who wrote an immortal symphony to express his love for his wife or someone who suppressed his wife’s desire to be an artist in her own right? Field challenges us to ask similar questions about Tár. If his creation stays with

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) (2014; rentable): Like Tár, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Oscar winner makes bold statements about a cultural icon having a reckoning with changing mores. e two films would be fascinating to compare and contrast, thematically and stylistically.

THE PIANO TEACHER (2001; HBO Max, rentable): Are you up for another dark character study of a female musician in a European setting? A very, very dark one? Isabelle Huppert plays a rigid perfectionist whose search for release leads her to dangerous places in Michael Haneke’s adaptation of Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek’s novel.

THE CONDUCTOR (2021; rentable): Or maybe you’d prefer a more inspiring story from real life. Like the fictional Tár, Marin Alsop is a major American conductor who began as a protégée of Leonard Bernstein. is documentary chronicles the struggles she faced on the way up.

NEW IN THEATERS

ARMAGEDDON TIME: In 1980 New York, a young boy (Banks Repeta) confronts changing cultural and family expectations in this autobiographical drama from James Gray (Ad Astra). With Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins. (115 min, R. Essex)

DECISION TO LEAVE: A detective (Park Hae-il) investigating a man’s death becomes dangerously involved with his widow in this suspense drama for which director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) was honored at the Cannes Film Festival. (139 min, NR. Savoy)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

AMSTERDAMHH1/2 Director David O. Russell returns with a fact-inspired mystery about three friends (Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington) caught up in a politically motivated murder plot in the 1930s. (134 min, R. Big Picture, Playhouse)

BLACK ADAMHH The villain (Dwayne Johnson) of the D.C. Comics film Shazam! gets center stage in this showcase for his anti-heroism. Jaume Collet-Serra directed. (124 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Palace, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

CALL JANEHHH In pre-Roe v. Wade America, a suburban housewife (Elizabeth Banks) gets involved with a network that connects women with abortion services in this drama from Phyllis Nagy. (121 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace)

DON’T WORRY DARLINGHH1/2 A 1950s homemaker (Florence Pugh) begins to suspect there’s something wrong with her utopian lifestyle in this thriller from Olivia Wilde. (122 min, R. Roxy)

THE GOOD HOUSEHHH Sigourney Weaver plays a real estate agent struggling with alcohol addiction in this comedy-drama, also starring Kevin Kline. (114 min, R. Catamount)

HALLOWEEN ENDSHH1/2 The final installment of David Gordon Green’s “H40” trilogy bills itself as the last rampage of horror icon Michael Myers. (111 min, R. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Star, Sunset)

LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILEHH1/2 A lonely kid befriends a singing crocodile in this family comedy based on the children’s book. (106 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Playhouse, Star, Stowe, Welden)

MY POLICEMANHH1/2 Michael Grandage’s literary adaptation follows the repercussions of a secret over decades, as a cop who is married to a woman reconnects with his male lover. With Harry Styles, Linus Roache and Emma Corrin. (113 min, R. Roxy)

PREY FOR THE DEVILHH a nun (Jacqueline Byers) tries to exorcise a demon in this horror flick from Daniel Stamm ( Exorcism). (93 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Palace, Sunset)

SEE HOW THEY RUNHHH Saoirse Ronan, Sam Rockwell and Ruth Wilson star in this murder mystery set in the 1950s among London theater folk. (98 min, PG-13. Palace)

SMILEHHH1/2 A doctor (Sosie Bacon) is plagued by terrifying visions in this horror debut from writer-director Parker Finn. (115 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy, Sunset, Welden)

TARHHHHH The Venice Film Festival honored Cate Blanchett for her performance as Lydia Tár, a promi nent classical composer with some dark secrets, in this drama from Todd Field (Little Children). (158 min, R. Essex, Roxy, Savoy; reviewed 11/2)

TICKET TO PARADISEHH1/2 Julia Roberts and George Clooney play a divorced couple so convinced their daughter’s wedding is a bad idea that they join forces to sabotage it. Ol Parker directed. (104 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden)

TILLHHHH The mother (Danielle Deadwyler) of murdered teen Emmett Till fights entrenched racism to bring his killers to justice in this historical drama from Chinonye Chukwu (Clemency). (130 min, PG-13. Majestic, Marquis)

TRIANGLE OF SADNESSHHH A luxury cruise for influencers and the super-rich goes very wrong in this dark comedy from Ruben Östlund (Force ), starring Harris Dickinson and Charlbi Dean.

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

BEETLEJUICE (Sunset)

BROS (Stowe)

CORPSE BRIDE (Sunset)

GKIDS PRESENTS STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2022: SPIRITED AWAY (Essex, Wed 2 only)

THE GOONIES (Star)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: LA TRAVIATA (Essex, Sat only)

MOTHER TERESA: NO GREATER LOVE (Essex, Wed 2 only)

NO WAY OUT (Catamount, Wed 9 only)

THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON (Catamount, Wed 2 only)

PEARL (Sunset)

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES 35TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun only)

SECOND ANNUAL VTIFF AT THE SAVOY (Savoy, Fri-Sun only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS: 222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net

*PALACE 9 CINEMAS: 10 Fayette Dr., South Burlington, 864-5610, palace9.com

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

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

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com

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

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

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

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

calendar

2-9, 2022

WED.2

business

BIZ BUZZ ZOOM: Vermont Womenpreneurs hosts a virtual networking space for women business owners to meet and connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ vtwomenpreneurs.com.

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Local professionals make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

VETERANS & COMMUNITY JOB FAIRS: Vets get early ac cess — but all are invited — at this local hiring event. VFW Post 6689, Essex Junction, noon-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 828-4000.

dance MOVEMENT MATTERS

LUNCHEON: MAREE REMALIA: Curious (and hungry) locals bring a brown bag to hear from this dancer and choreographer about her work and career. Mahaney Arts Center Café, Middlebury College, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3168.

film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: Viewers experience 19thcentury explorer Henry Bates’ journey through the Amazon rainforest. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular

admission, $14.50-18; admis sion free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: Cameras positioned in nests, underwater and along the forest floor capture a year’s worth of critters coming and going. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON’: A modern Mark Twain-style adventure fol lows a young man with Down syndrome who runs away from his residential home to go to wrestling school. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: An adventurous dolichorhyn chops travels through the most dangerous oceans in history, encountering plesiosaurs, giant turtles and the deadly mosasaur along the way. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a mind-bending journey from the beginning of time through the mysteries of the universe. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience,

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admis sion free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

VERMONT INTERNATIONAL FILM

FESTIVAL: Burlington’s cinematic showcase continues on the virtual silver screen. See vtiff.org for all offerings. $12. Info, 660-2600.

food & drink

HART’S KOREAN AND FILIPINO: Flavorful fried chicken, ramen, udon, steamed buns and lumpia are doled out at this pop-up kitchen. Tiny Community Kitchen, Burlington, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4-8 p.m. Cost of food and drink; preregister. Info, 272-1886.

health & fitness ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: Those in need of an easy-on-thejoints workout experience an hour of calming, low-impact movement. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

BONE BUILDERS/ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: Folks of all ages ward off osteoporosis in an exercise and prevention class. Online, 7:30 a.m.; Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 9 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3322.

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

COMMUNITY HOOP CLASSES: Hula hoopers of all ages get loopy at this weekly class.

Champlain Elementary School, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Donations. Info, 355-8457.

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, beverlyblakeney@ gmail.com.

YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for beginners looking to build strength and balance. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 1-2:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, beverlyblakeney@gmail.com.

language

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH CLASS FOR BEGINNERS: New students and those looking to brush up learn from a local native speaker. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: Learners of all abilities practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celticcurious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

lgbtq

THRIVE QTPOC MOVIE NIGHT: Each month, Pride Center of Vermont virtually screens a movie centered on queer and trans people of color. 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, thrive@pridecentervt.org.

montréal

‘DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS’: Classic horror gets silly in this satirical spookfest featuring five farcical actors and spine-chilling stage effects. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 1 & 8 p.m. $25-67. Info, 514-739-7944.

music

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND: The New Orleans ensemble channels decades of jazz history in a transcendent performance. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20-59. Info, 863-5966.

WILD WOODS SONG CIRCLE: Singers and acoustic instrumen talists gather for an evening of music making. Zoom option available. Godnick Adult Center, Rutland, 7:15-9:15 p.m. Free. Info, 775-1182.

politics

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: SUSAN CLARK: The coauthor of Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home advocates for a return to local organizing and politics. Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 754-6660.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

talks

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: ENRIQUE GARCÍA: The Middlebury College professor of Hispanic visual cul ture takes a look back at the his tory of superhero stories and their engagement with ideas about race, immigration and America. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: GLYNNIS FAWKES: An author and illustra tor describes all the research, design and narrative work that go into creating a nonfiction graphic novel. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: MAREK BENNETT: An artist and transla tor who worked on the Vermont Reads 2022 book The Most Costly Journey (El Viaje Más Caro) cele brates the power of cartooning to connect people. Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 254-5290.

words

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: BRAD KESSLER: The author discusses his Vermont Book Awardnominated novel North and how it was inspired by his work with refugees and immigrants in Vermont. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: CHRIS VACCARO: J.R.R. Tolkien’s work is seen through the lens of myth and female divinity in this University of Vermont lecturer’s address. Rutland Free Library, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: GREGORY MAGUIRE: The author of Wicked discusses his latest Oz remix, The Oracle of Maracoor, and the value of moral ambiguity in literature. Norwich Congregational Church, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: M.T. ANDERSON: The National Book Award-winning author discusses why the hills and crumbling barns of Vermont’s landscapes are so enduringly attractive. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: ESTELA GONZÁLEZ: The Middlebury College professor of Luso Hispanic studies presents her book Arribada, about a Mexican woman pushed to confront her

role in environmental and social injustice. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

THU.3 business

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS BIZ

BUZZ MEETUP: Local female busi ness owners meet and chat over coffee. Butter Bar and Kitchen, Burlington, 10-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, info@vtwomenpreneurs.com.

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL JOB FAIR: The Vermont Department of Labor gives job seekers a chance to meet with employers from around the state. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 828-4000.

climate crisis

SUELLEN BREAKEY AND PATRICE K. NICHOLAS: Two mental health professionals dig into the impact that the climate crisis is having on conditions like depression, anxiety and PTSD. The Current, Stowe, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 253-8358.

crafts

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

etc.

NIGHT OWL CLUB: Astronomers and space exploration experts discuss the latest in extraterrestrial news with curious attendees.

Presented by Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2372.

film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.2.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.2.

food & drink

AUTUMN BAKING WITH ‘THE PIE GUY’: SALTED CARAMEL APPLE PIE: Gary Stuard demonstrates how to make a scrumptious autumnal treat. Presented by City Market, Onion River Co-op. 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@citymarket. coop.

health & fitness

FALL PREVENTION TAI CHI: Humans boost their strength and balance through gentle, flowing movements. St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Vergennes, Levels 1 and 2, 9-10 a.m.; Level 3, 10-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, lhfrancis839@gmail.com.

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.2

burlington

BABYTIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones. Pre-walkers and younger. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

CRAFTERNOON: Crafts take over the Teen Space, from origami to stickers to fireworks in a jar. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546.

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Ages 5 through 11. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Parents and caregivers bond with their pre-walking babes dur ing this gentle playtime. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BABYTIME: Teeny-tiny library patrons enjoy a gentle, slow story time featur ing songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

CRAFTERNOON: BUBBLE WRAP PAINT: Aspiring abstract artists experiment with colors and bubbles. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

LEGO & BOARD GAME TIME: Blocks and boards make for a fun, creative after noon. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

LEGO BUILDERS: Elementary-age imagi neers explore, create and participate in challenges. Ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAY TIME: Little ones build with blocks and read together. Ages 1 through 4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youth get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexual ity and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

PEABODY AFTERSCHOOL FUN FOR GRADES 1-4: Students make friends over crafts and story time. George Peabody Library, Post Mills, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 333-9724.

SCIENCE YOGA: This full-body, playful program combines body awareness with an introduction to early science topics ranging from dinosaurs to planets. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Regular admission,

The Wee ’Un’s Gambit

Fun, sportsmanship and epic queen battles are the order of the day at Vermont Chess’ 19th annual fall tournament. Young players of all experience levels in kindergarten through 12th grade ready their castling fingers to vie for the top trophies during a day of friendly face-offs. Players are grouped by age, and everyone plays four rounds — that is, no one is eliminated but instead gets paired off in later rounds with someone with a similar score. Supportive spectators are allowed but must stay silent.

BERLIN FALL SCHOLASTIC CHESS TOURNAMENT

Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at Capital City Grange Hall in Berlin. $8-20. Info, mike@vtchess.info, vtchess.info.

$15-18; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

STORY TIME!: Songs and stories are shared in the garden, or in the com munity room in inclement weather. Norwich Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1184.

THU.3

burlington

THURSDAY MOVIE MATINEE: Every Thursday, tweens and teens watch a fun PG-13 movie together. See fletcherfree. org for each week’s selection. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546.

chittenden county

KIDS’ BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS K-2 AND THEIR PARENTS: Little bookworms and their caregivers learn to love reading together through sharing, crafts and writing activities. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

LEGO CLUB: Children of all ages get crafty with Legos. Adult supervision is required for kids under 10. Winooski Memorial Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT WITH MISS EMMA: The star of “Music for Sprouts” and “Mr. Chris and Friends” leads little ones 5 and younger in singing, scarf play

and movement. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Books, songs, rhymes, sign language lessons and math activities make for well-educated young sters. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

READ TO A CAT: Young readers of all ages get a 10-minute time slot to tell stories to Oscar the therapy cat. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Energetic youngsters join Miss Meliss for stories, songs and lots of silliness. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

PRESCHOOL PLAY & READ: Outdoor activities, stories and songs get 3- and 4-year-olds engaged. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

FRI.4

chittenden county

FOSSIL PAINTING: Aspiring archaeolo gists paint their very own dino bones. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-5:45 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

KIDS’ MOVIE: Little film buffs congre gate in the library’s Katie O’Brien Activity Room for a screening of a G-rated movie. See southburlingtonlibrary.org for each week’s title. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TEEN FRIGHT NIGHT: Kids 13 through 18 hang out, eat popcorn and watch a freaky flick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

upper valley

SCIENCE YOGA: See WED.2.

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in stories, songs and silliness. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Kids 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and take home a fun activity. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 745-1391.

FIRST FRIDAY STORY TIMES: Kids of all ages enjoy original and traditional music from Ed “the Music Man” Morgan. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

outside vermont

‘CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION’: All that jazz gets a teen-appropriate remix in this rendition of the beloved musical from Trumbull Hall Troupe. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7 p.m. Donations; preregister. Info, jean@trumbullhalltroupe.com.

SAT.5

chittenden county

JANE LINDHOLM & MELODY BODETTE: The creators of the popular children’s podcast “But Why” answer questions

about farm animals such as whether llamas are ticklish and how fish breathe underwater. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KARMA KIDZ YOGA OPEN STUDIO

SATURDAYS: Young yogis of all ages and their caregivers drop in for some fun breathing and movement activities. Kamalika-K, Essex Junction, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Donations. Info, 871-5085.

PRE-K THROUGH 8TH GRADE OPEN HOUSE: Parents and caregivers visit classrooms and learn about the day school’s personalized and engaging cur riculum. Vermont Day School, Shelburne, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 495-5150.

SATURDAY STORIES: Kiddos start the weekend off right with stories and songs. Ages 3 through 7. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BERLIN FALL SCHOLASTIC CHESS

TOURNAMENT: Young grand masters in grades K through 12 compete for trophies. See calendar spotlight. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $820. Info, mike@vtchess.info.

outside vermont

‘CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION’: See FRI.4.

SUN.6

barre/montpelier

NORTHFIELD CLIMATE PLAYGROUP: Parents talk climate action while the kids play together. Northfield Falls Community Playground, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 522-6684.

outside vermont

‘CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION’: See FRI.4, 3 p.m.

MON.7

burlington

STORIES WITH SHANNON: Bookworms ages 2 through 5 enjoy fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

MIDDLE SCHOOL GAME: ‘KONSTROO THIS!’: Tweens play a newly launched board game and meet its inventor, Marc Hurwitz. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TEEN NIGHT: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Local wizards and warlocks ages 12 and up play a collaborative game of magic and monsters. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: See FRI.4, 2-2:30 p.m.

TUE.8

burlington

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing,

calendar

YOGA FOR STRENGTH & BALANCE: Movers bring a mat and focus on building align ment and stamina. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

lgbtq

POP-UP HAPPY HOUR: Locals connect over drinks at a speak easy-style bar. Hosted by OUT in the 802. Lincolns, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

montréal

‘DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS’: See WED.2, 8 p.m. music

UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE: The student ensemble breathes new life into the music of legend ary jazz composer Thad Jones. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

WESTERN VERMONT CHORAL LAB: Led by Moira Smiley and other local musicians, the Queen City’s newest community choir welcomes singers of all abilities and performs songs in diverse languages. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 7-8 p.m. $120 for 10 weeks; preregister. Info, info@ moirasmiley.com.

politics

THOUGHT CLUB: Artists and activists convene to engage with Burlington‘s rich tradition of radical thought and envision its future. Democracy Creative, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, tevan@democracycreative.com.

Write the Bullet

Every November, NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month to the uninitiated — sees writers across the country attempt to compose 50,000 words in 30 days. For authors accepting the challenge (or even those who have set themselves a more moderate personal goal), libraries across the state are holding periodic write-ins. Novelists take a break from toiling in solitude to meet up in solidarity with their compatriots, put pen to paper as a group and offer each other quiet encouragement. Most write-ins feature refreshments and welcome both teens and adults.

NANOWRIMO WRITE-IN

Thursday, November 3, 4-6:45 p.m., and Wednesday, November 9, 1-4 p.m., at South Burlington Public Library; Tuesday, November 8, 6 p.m., at Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, and 5-7 p.m., at Cobleigh Public Library in Lyndonville. See website for future dates. Free. Info, 8464140, southburlingtonlibrary.org; 863-3403, fletcherfree.org; 626-5475, cobleighlibrary.org.

words

JANE DWINELL: The author launches the memoir Alzheimer’s Canyon: One Couple’s Reflections on Living With Dementia which she cowrote with her late hus band during the last years of his life. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

MYSTERY READERS BOOK CLUB: True crime buffs and amateur sleuths gather to discuss their favorite mystery books. Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 3 p.m. Free; preregis ter. Info, 223-6954.

NANOWRIMO WRITE-IN: Writers participating in National Novel Writing month gather to put pen to paper and offer each other encouragement. Ages 16 and up. See calendar spotlight. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-6:45 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

REBECCA & SALLYANN MAJOYA: The local couple sign and read from their joint memoir, Uncertain Fruit: A Memoir of Infertility, Loss and Love. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, majoyawriting@ gmail.com.

FRI.4 business

SMALL BUSINESS QUESTION: WHAT DO I CHARGE FOR MY SERVICES?: Career counselor Marie Eddy explains how best to monetize your expertise. Presented by Women Business Owners Network Vermont. 8:30-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 503-0219.

dance

ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE: Locals get their Jane Austen on at a British ball where all the dances are run through before hand. Wear casual, comfortable clothes. Newcomers’ lesson, 6:30 p.m. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7-9:30 p.m. $10-15; preregister. Info, val.medve@ gmail.com.

fairs & festivals

TWIST: TWIN STATE ZINE &

COMIC FAIR: Locals browse comic books, homemade zines and self-published poetry chap books by local artists and Center for Cartoon Studies students. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.2.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.2. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.2.

games

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a game session. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

health & fitness

BONE BUILDERS/ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.2.

ONLINE GUIDED MEDITATION: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: A sequence of slow, controlled motions aids in strength and balance. Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 229-1549.

holidays

SANTA SALE: Collectibles, decorations and sugary snacks kick off the holiday shopping season. Proceeds benefit church programs. Waterbury Center Community Church, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 244-8089.

language

ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE ITALIAN CONVERSATION: Semifluent speakers practice their skills during a slow conversazi one about the news. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

lgbtq

FLAN(NEL)SEXUAL: A QUEER

DANCE PARTY: Queer and trans locals don their finest autumnal plaid for an evening shindig. Tandem, Bristol, 8 p.m. $5-15. Info, addisoncountyqueers@ gmail.com.

music

ARIOSO CHAMBER ENSEMBLE: The trio presents works for alto, viola and piano, including the premiere of Saxtons River com poser Carol Wood’s “Six Curses and a Charm.” See calendar spotlight. Richmond Free Library, 7:30 p.m. $20 suggested dona tion. Info, 279-6082.

EEE LECTURES: RAY VEGA: The Education & Enrichment for Everyone series closes out with this musician and University of Vermont lecturer’s address, “The Roots of Latin Jazz.” Virtual option available. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2-3 p.m. $8. Info, 363-6937.

GOSPEL CHOIR: Student singers under guest director Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson give voice to uplifting numbers with messag es of faith, love and inspiration. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $5-12. Info, 603-646-2422.

MUSIC JAM: Local instru mentalists of all ability levels gather to make sweet music. BALE Community Space, South Royalton, 7-10 p.m. Free. Info, 498-8438.

PAUL ASBELL’S BURMESE

PANTHER QUINTET: The veteran jazz group serenades concert goers with their bluesy strains.

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

Artistree Community Arts Center Theatre & Gallery, South Pomfret, 7:30-9 p.m. $20. Info, 457-3500.

SHADOWS OF THE ’60S: A tribute group brings the Motown hits of the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations and more to life. Barre Opera House, 8 p.m. $25-44. Info, 476-8188.

tech

TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and more in one-onone sessions. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE

KNEW IT’: The Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Vermont presents the world premiere of local play wright Jeanne Beckwith’s tale of a marriage on the rocks. West Rutland Town Hall, 7-9:30 p.m. $20. Info, 775-0903.

‘THE OUTSIDER’: A satirical sendup of American politics follows a lieutenant governor unexpect edly thrust into the top job by a sex scandal. Tuttle Hall Theater, College of St. Joseph, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $20. Info, 775-0903.

‘PIPPIN’: Memorable songs such as “Magic to Do” and “Corner of the Sky” propel the Tony Awardwinning tale of a young prince longing to be extraordinary. Presented by the Dartmouth Department of Theater. Moore Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 8 p.m. $15. Info, 603-646-2422.

words

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FALL BOOK SALE: The library sells off used books, CDs, DVDs and collectibles in great condition for low prices. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, salmargo451@ gmail.com.

MATT DONOVAN & NATHAN MCCLAIN: Two acclaimed poets read from their new collections, The Dug-Up Gun Museum and Previously Owned respectively. Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

SAT.5

bazaars

ANNUAL BAZAAR: The United Church of Fairfax sells hand crafted gifts and home-baked goodies to benefit its mis sion work. Fairfax Community Center, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 849-6313.

COCHRAN’S SKI & RIDE SALE: Snow sports enthusiasts stock up on new and used gear. Camel’s Hump Middle School, Richmond, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, skisale@ cochranskiclub.com.

Charming Chamber

Arioso Chamber Ensemble presents a brand-new magical musical experience, “Blessings, Curses and a Charm,” in Richmond and Montpelier this weekend. Alto Linda Radtke, pianist Alison Cerutti and violist Elizabeth Reid have compiled a program celebrating all things mystical and mysterious and sure to conjure the witchy wistfulness of late autumn. The centerpiece of the show is the premiere of “Six Curses and a Charm” by Saxtons River composer Carol Wood, which was inspired by ancient Roman and medieval incantations. The spellbinding singing continues with otherworldly works by Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert.

ARIOSO CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

Friday, November 4, 7:30 p.m., at Richmond Free Library; and Saturday, November 5, 7:30 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier. $20 suggested donation. Info, 279-6082, ariosochambermusic.org.

SAT.5

calendar business

VERMONT ATHENA LEADERSHIP

AWARDS GALA: The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce throws a gala to recognize the accomplishments of women in business over the past year. Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, Montpelier, 5:30-10 p.m. $65; preregister. Info, 229-5711.

crafts

COZY NOOK CRAFT FAIR: Locals peruse handmade items and homemade baked goods. Essex Free Library, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

WILLISTON CRAFT SHOW: Over 100 artists, artisans and specialty food vendors showcase their handmade goods. Williston Central School, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, wsdcraftshow@cvsdvt.org.

dance

MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE: To live tunes and gender-neutral calling, dancers balance, shadow and do-si-do the night away. N95, KN94, KN95 or 3-ply surgi cal masks required. Capital City Grange, Berlin, beginners’ lesson, 7:40 p.m.; social dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-20. Info, 225-8921.

film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.2.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See WED.2.

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

‘LA TRAVIATA’: Upper-class haughtiness threatens Violetta and Alfredo’s love in Verdi’s classic tragedy, broadcasted live from the Metropolitan Opera. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 12:55 p.m. $16-25. Info, 748-2600. Essex Cinemas & T-Rex Theater, Essex Junction, 12:55 p.m. $26. Info, 878-7231. Loew Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1 p.m. $1022. Info, 603-646-2422.

MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR: Drive-in viewers witness a selection of adventure-packed documentaries from Colorado’s Mountainfilm Festival. Proceeds benefit the Waitsfield Children’s Center. Big Picture Theater and Café, Waitsfield, 7-9:30 p.m. $1220. Info, 274-0528.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.2.

food & drink

ADVENTURE DINNER: SWITCHBACK TAKEOVER DINNER: A scavenger hunt, wood-fired feast and immaculate beer pairings make for a brewlover’s paradise. Switchback Brewing, Burlington, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $167; preregister; limited space. Info, 248-224-7539.

FREE SATURDAY CHOCOLATE

TASTINGS: A sommelier of sweet stuff leads drop-in guests

through a tasting platter. Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory Store & Café, Burlington, 11 a.m.4 p.m. Free. Info, 864-1807.

games

BEGINNER DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Waterbury Public Library game master Evan Hoffman gathers novices and veterans alike for an afternoon of virtual adventuring. Teens and adults welcome. Noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

holidays

SANTA SALE: See FRI.4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

montréal

‘DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS’: See WED.2, 8 p.m.

music

A.J. LEE & BLUE SUMMIT AND THE STOCKWELL BROTHERS: East and West Coast bluegrass come together for a fingerpicking good double billing. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $22-25. Info, 387-0102.

ARIOSO CHAMBER ENSEMBLE: See FRI.4. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier.

‘AWAKE YOU SLEEPERS: SONGS OF WAKING IN A TIME OF QUIETNESS’: Social Band pres ents a program of invigorating choral works for winter. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $18 sug gested donation. Info, 355-4216.

CORNER HOUSE: A youthful quartet displays its acoustic skill and tender lyricism at the release concert for its new album, How Beautiful It’s Been Livestream available. Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. $15-25 suggested donation. Info, 388-9782.

THE FRONTMEN: Three former country lead singers — Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, Richie McDonald of Lonestar and Tim Rushlow of Little Texas — bring down the house. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $40-60. Info, 775-0903.

GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE: RESCHEDULED. Members of this Indigenous music ensemble tell stories about their ancestors. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 5-9 p.m. Free. Info, 793-2209.

MONTEVERDI MUSIC FACULTY RECITAL: ‘MUSIC FOR AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON’: Solo acts and chamber groups perform a wide variety of tunes, with pro ceeds benefiting the Monteverdi Music School scholarship program. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 2-4 p.m. $20 sug gested donation. Info, director@ monteverdimusic.org.

‘PORTERPALOOZA’: Longtime Vermont band the Grift takes audience requests at this fund raiser for Porter Medical Center. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $30; cash bar. Info, 382-9222.

RAISE THE ROOF TO END

HOMELESSNESS: The Lowell Thompson Band brings the tunes

while attendees snack on tacos and win raffle prizes. Proceeds benefit the Lamoille Community House. Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 6 p.m. $75. Info, 521-7943.

outdoors

BRANDON AUDUBON BIRD SEED SALE: Locals buy snacks for their feathered friends and get their questions answered by Rutland County Audubon experts. Blue Seal, Brandon, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, birding@rutlandcounty audubon.org.

WOMEN WHO BIRD: STICK SEASON: Women and nonbinary folks of all birding abilities seek out late-autumn warblers at this outing cohosted by Pride Center of Vermont. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9-11 a.m. Pay what you can; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

theater

‘THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNEW IT’: See FRI.4.

‘THE OUTSIDER’: See FRI.4. ‘PIPPIN’: See FRI.4.

words

FRIENDS OF ILSLEY LIBRARY

USED BOOK SALE: Books of all genres for all ages go on sale, largely for $2 or less, and all proceeds fund library program ming. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FALL BOOK SALE: See FRI.4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

SUN.6

bazaars

COCHRAN’S SKI & RIDE SALE: See SAT.5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

HARVEST BARTER FAIR: Neighbors trade items they’ve grown, preserved, baked or raised over the past months. Lakeview Union School, Greensboro, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 755-6336.

community

VETS TOWN HALL: Veterans share stories about their time in service, while community members listen. McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 1 p.m. Free; preregis ter. Info, vermont@vetstownhall. org.

film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.2.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘LA TRAVIATA’: See. SAT.5. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 12:55 p.m. $23. Info, 775-0903.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.2.

food & drink

HARVEST DINNER: The newly opened bed and breakfast hosts

a gourmet feast to benefit Willing Hands. Preregister by November 4. Wise Pines, Woodstock, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $100; preregister; limited space. Info, 432-3126.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DEGOESBRIAND COUNCIL 279 PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Hungry locals pile their plates with flapjacks, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and Vermont maple syrup. Cathedral of St. Joseph, Burlington, 9-11:30 a.m. $10-25. Info, 862-5109.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators are always welcome to join this weekly practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hahn. Sangha Studio — Pine, Burlington, 6:30-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, newleaf sangha@gmail.com.

KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: Participants prac tice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Donations; preregis ter. Info, mollyzapp@live.com.

SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION: Mindful folks experience sitting and walking meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Shambhala Meditation Center, Burlington, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, lungta108@gmail.com.

montréal

‘DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS’: See WED.2, 2 & 7 p.m. music

ALISA AMADOR: The NPR Tiny Desk Contest-winning Latin singer displays her singing and songwriting chops. Richmond Congregational Church, 4-6 p.m. $15-25. Info, 434-4563.

ARIEL QUARTET: Bows in hand, the string players interpret works by Haydn, Bartók and Schubert. South Church Hall, St. Johnsbury, 3-5:30 p.m. $20. Info, leslie@ pshift.com.

‘AWAKE YOU SLEEPERS: SONGS OF WAKING IN A TIME OF QUIETNESS’: See SAT.5. United Church of Hinesburg, 3-4:30 p.m.

KEVIN BURKE: The legendary Irish fiddler gives an intimate Celtic concert during a dessert potluck. Private residence, Braintree, 4 p.m. $20-25. Info, 728-6351.

ZERO: The classic psychedelic fusion band celebrates its 30th an niversary and latest album. Double E Performance Center’s T-Rex Theater, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. $40-45. Info, info@double evermont.com.

theater

‘THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNEW IT’: See FRI.4, 3-5:30 p.m. ‘THE OUTSIDER’: See FRI.4, 2 p.m. ‘PIPPIN’: See FRI.4, 2 p.m.

words

ELLYN GAYDOS AND GENESE GRILL: The authors, respectively,

calendar

SUN.6 « P.77

of the memoir Pig Years and the essay collection Portals: Reflections on the Spirit in Matter read from their work and sign books. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 454-1240.

MON.7 film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.2.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.2. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.2.

food & drink

SOURDOUGH 101, PART 3: CAKES: In the third of four workshops, Heike Meyer of Brot Bakehouse teaches home bakers how to use their starter to leaven delicious desserts. Presented by City Market, Onion River Co-op. 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ citymarket.coop.

health & fitness

ADVANCED TAI CHI: Experienced movers build strength, improve balance and reduce stress. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@skyrivertaichi.com.

BONE BUILDERS/ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.2.

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Holley Hall, Bristol, noon-1 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, wirlselizabeth@ gmail.com.

WEEKLY CHAIR YOGA: Those with mobility challenges or who are new to yoga practice balance and build strength through gentle, supported movements. Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 3 p.m. Free; prereg ister; donations accepted. Info, 223-3322.

YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for begin ners looking to build strength and balance. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 4-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, wirlselizabeth@gmail.com.

montréal

‘DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS’: See WED.2, 7 p.m.

politics

LINDA RADTKE: The singer and historian dresses in turn-of-thecentury suffragette garb for a musical talk celebrating over 100 years of the 19th Amendment. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

seminars

IS YOUR HOME FIRE SAFE?: South Burlington’s deputy fire chief Terry Francis covers safety protocols for every family and home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

talks

ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS: A panel of experts explains the social condi tions that lead to homelessness in Washington County, and what can be done. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

words

ADDISON COUNTY WRITERS COMPANY: Poets, playwrights, novelists and memoirists of ev ery experience level meet weekly for an MFA-style workshop. Swift House Inn, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, jay@zigzaglitmag.org.

DOUGLAS BAUER: Bab Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the 1918 influ enza epidemic all feature in The Beckoning World, the prolific Massachusetts author’s new novel. Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TUE.8 business

VETERANS & COMMUNITY JOB FAIRS: See WED.2. American Legion, Enosburg Falls, 9:30 a.m.-noon.

community CURRENT EVENTS

DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library hosts a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

dance

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers

convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. Beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m. Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.2.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See WED.2.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.2. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.2.

food & drink

COOKING WITH AN INDUCTION BURNER: Chef Michael Clauss demos recipes perfect for those with an induction cooktop. Presented by City Market, Onion River Co-op. 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@citymarket.coop.

games

BRIDGE FOR BEGINNERS: Expert player Grace Sweet teaches novices how to play a classic card game. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister; lim ited space. Info, 244-7036.

health & fitness

FALL PREVENTION TAI CHI: See THU.3. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 10-11 a.m. Info, lindsayhart09@gmail.com.

SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: See FRI.4.

language

PAUSE-CAFÉ IN-PERSON FRENCH CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, pausecafe+owner@groups.io.

music

APPLE HILL STRING QUARTET: Accompanied by pianist Sally Pinkas, the chamber group kicks off their yearlong residency with a program spanning conti nents and centuries. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $20-35. Info, 603-646-2422.

words

THE MOTH STORYSLAM: Local tellers of tales recount true sto ries in the hopes of winning an appearance on NPR. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:309:30 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, susanne@themoth.org.

NANOWRIMO WRITE-IN: See THU.3. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-7 p.m. Info, 626-5475.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

FAMI LY

FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

TUE.8 « P.73

dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

CRAFTYTOWN!: From painting to printmaking and collage to sculpture, creative kids explore different projects

and mediums. Ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KIDS’ DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Little ones learn to play D&D and build their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Ages 8 through 11. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PLAYGROUP & FAMILY SUPPORT: Families with children under age 5 play and connect with others in the com munity. Winooski Memorial Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME ON THE GREEN: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library leads half an hour of stories, rhymes and songs. Williston Town Green, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

TODDLERTIME: Kids ages 1 through 3 and their caregivers join Miss Kelly and her puppets Bainbow and La-La for story time. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See THU.3. ROBIN’S NEST NATURE PLAYGROUP: Outdoor pursuits through fields and forests captivate little ones up to age 5 and their parents. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6206.

randolph/royalton

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & ACTION: Activists ages 14 through 18 discuss community service, climate action, LGBTQ rights and social justice. BALE Community Space, South Royalton, 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 498-8438.

WED.9

burlington

BABYTIME: See WED.2.

CRAFTERNOON: See WED.2.

STEAM SPACE: See WED.2.

chittenden county

AFTERSCHOOL MOVIE: ‘MINIONS’: Fans of the 2010 animated comedy Despicable Me learn the backstory of its slimy stooges. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BABYTIME: See WED.2.

LEGO BUILDERS: See WED.2.

MOVIE MATINEE: Film lovers have a family-friendly afternoon at this screen ing of an animated Disney favorite. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

PLAY TIME: See WED.2.

mad river valley/ waterbury

SOUND ON: Mini musicians dance, play and try their hands at various instru ments. Ages 6 through 9. Waterbury Public Library, 3-3:45 p.m. Free; prereg ister. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

PEABODY AFTERSCHOOL FUN FOR GRADES 1-4: See WED.2.

SCIENCE YOGA: See WED.2. STORY TIME!: See WED.2. K

WED.9 business

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS BIZ BUZZ MEETUP: See THU.3. Minifactory, Bristol, 10-11:15 a.m.

FOMO?

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.2.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

MONTPELIER PLACE: MONTPELIER’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Local historian Paul Carnahan leads a walking tour of the Capital City’s defining buildings and bridges. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 229-6206.

environment

IAN CLARK: The wildlife photog rapher gives listeners a bird’s-eye view of the iconic common loon. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

film

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

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.2.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See WED.2.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘THE LAST WALTZ’: Martin Scorsese’s iconic film about the Band’s 1976 farewell

concert kicks off this new screen ing series from Next Stage Arts and Next Chapter Records. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 387-0102.

‘RECLAIM IDAHO’: Filmmakers Laura Wing-Kamooski and Jim Kamooski present their docu mentary about three friends’ onthe-road campaign for Medicaid expansion. Memorial Lounge, Waterman Building, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, emokeefe@uvm.edu.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.2. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.2.

health & fitness

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.2.

BONE BUILDERS/ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.2.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.2.

COMMUNITY HOOP CLASSES: See WED.2.

GUIDO MASÉ: Phoenix Books and the Vermont Italian Cultural Association cohost an evening with the herbalist and author of The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter and Tonic Plants 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

LONG-FORM SUN 73: See WED.2.

VERMONT HEALTH CONNECT — HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 2023: Insurance shoppers prep for open enrollment by reviewing plans and getting familiar with local resources. Presented by New England Federal Credit Union. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 764-6940.

YANG 24: See WED.2.

language

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH CLASS FOR BEGINNERS: See WED.2.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.2.

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.2.

lgbtq

MOMENTUM MONTHLY VIRTUAL SOCIAL HOUR: LGBTQ folks ages 55 and up gather to make new friends and connect with old ones. Presented by Pride Center of Vermont. 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, eeka@pridecentervt.org.

montréal

‘DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS’: See WED.2.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.2.

talks

FEMALE FOUNDERS SPEAKERS SERIES: FILM & MEDIA: LaurenGlenn Davitian of the Center for Media & Democracy, Orly Yadin of VTIFF and Monica Donovan of JAM Creative share their experi ences as leaders in their industry. Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. $15. Info, sam@vcet.co.

tech

IDENTITY THEFT: HOW TO DETECT SCAMS: AARP presenter Bill April gives listeners the low down on cybercrime and how to avoid it. Waterbury Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

theater

‘VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA & SPIKE’: Girls Nite Out Productions presents Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning comedy that blends Chekov’s keen eye for family dynamics with modern angsts over social media and fame. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $23-25. Info, 448-0086.

words

AFTER HOURS BOOK CLUB: Patrons discuss Magic Hour, the story of a mysterious girl and the psychiatrist who must help her, by Kristin Hannah. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:307:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

FFL BOOK CLUB: ‘HERE, RIGHT MATTERS: AN AMERICAN STORY’: Fletcher Free Library patrons break down Trump-Ukraine scandal witness Alexander Vindman’s memoir. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

JENNIFER FOERSTER: Lit lov ers listen to the poet behind Leaving Tulsa, Bright Raft in the Afterweather and The MaybeBird. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

KATHARINE BLAKE: The author of The Uninnocent: Notes on Violence and Mercy marks the memoir’s paperback launch with a conversation about the true meaning of justice. Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

NANOWRIMO WRITE-IN: See THU.3, 1-4 p.m.

POETRY POTLUCK: Wordsmiths and readers bring a dish and a poem (their own or others’) to share. Whirligig Brewing, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@catamountarts.org.

SARA JAFFE: The author reads from her short fiction and her novel, Dryland, dealing with politics, queerness and gender. Presented by Vermont Humanities. 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 262-2626. m

classes

art

DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Discover your happy place in one of our weekly classes. Making art boosts emotional well-being and brings joy to your life, especially when you connect with other art enthusiasts. Select the ongoing program that’s right for you. Now enrolling youth and adults for classes in drawing, painting and fused glass. Location: Davis Studio, 916 Shelburne Rd., South Burlington. Info: 4252700, davisstudiovt.com.

PAINTING CLASS IN

BARRE: Painting class with instructor and Italian painter Nitya Brighenti. Develop your abilities in draw ing and painting, working with a model. Free introductory meeting on Thu., Nov. 3, 10 a.m. Weekly 2-hour sessions on Thu.; starting

Nov. 10, 10 a.m.-noon. Cost: $50/ session. Location: Labor Hall, Barre. Info: o.brighenti@ hawaiiantel.net.

Generator

SILVER RING WORKSHOP: In this two-session, eight-hour workshop, students will create one or two silver ring bands. The processes covered include textur ing, sizing, sawing, filing, sanding, forming, soldering, shaping and polishing. After this intensive, students will have the skills to be gin making rings independently. No prior experience necessary. Sat., Nov. 19, & Sun., Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $200. Location: Generator Makerspace, 40 Sears Ln., Burlington. Info: 540-0761, education@generatorvt.com, generatorvt.com/classesevents/#!event/2022/11/19/ silver-ring-workshop

language

SPANISH CLASSES FOR ALL AGES: Premier native-speaking Spanish professor Maigualida Rak is giving fun, interac tive online lessons to improve comprehen sion and pronuncia tion and to achieve flu ency. Audiovisual material is used. “I feel proud to say that my students have significantly improved their Spanish with my teaching approach.” —Maigualida Rak. Read reviews on Facebook at Spanishcoursesvt. Info: Spanish Courses VT, 881-0931,

spanishtutor.vtfla@gmail.com, facebook.com/spanishonlinevt.

martial arts

AIKIDO: 25 FREE CLASSES!: Celebrate our 25th anniversary and discover the dynamic, flowing martial art of aikido. Learn how to relax under pressure and how aikido cultivates core power, aero bic fitness and resiliency. Aikido techniques emphasize throws, pinning techniques and the growth of internal power. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class. Starting on Tue., Nov. 1, 6 p.m.; meets 5 days/week. 25 free classes for new adult members. Membership rates incl. unlimited classes. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youth & families. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Benjamin Pincus, 951-8900, bpincus@burlington aikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

VERMONT BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: We offer a legitimate Brazilian jiu-jitsu training program for men, women and children in a friendly, safe and positive environment. Julio Cesar “Foca” Fernandez Nunes; CBJJP and IBJJF seventhdegree Carlson Gracie Sr. Coral Belt-certified instructor; teaching in Vermont, born and raised in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! A two-time world masters champion, five-time Brazilian

jiu-jitsu national champion, three-time Rio de Janeiro state champion and Gracie Challenge champion. Accept no limita tions! 1st class is free. Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: 598-2839, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.

music

DJEMBE & TAIKO DRUMMING: JOIN US!: New classes (outdoor mask optional/ masks indoors). Taiko Tue. and Wed.; Djembe Wed.; Kids & Parents Tue. and Wed. Conga classes by request! Schedule/register online.

Location: Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington. Info: 999-4255, spaton55@gmail.com, burlingtontaiko.org.

psychology

CRITICAL THINKING IN A TIME OF CONFUSION: Learn mul tiple techniques we can use to evaluate what we hear and see. In addition to multiple exercises, a variety of readings from cur rent sources is provided to give participants hands-on practice in applying what we discuss. Led by Sue Mehrtens, author of True or False?, available on the internet. Nov. 2, 9, 16 & 30, 7-9 p.m. Cost: $60/person. Register by email.

Location: the Jungian Center, Waterbury. Info: info@jungian center.org.

Matilda

AGE/SEX: 6-year-old spayed female

ARRIVAL DATE: September 15

SUMMARY: Sweet Matilda! This lovely and social lady will be a perfect addition to any home. Matilda does suffer from a skin allergy and will be on medication long-term (cost: roughly $50 to $60 a month), and she is looking for an owner who can take that on and help her get the treatment necessary to maintain her quality of life. Matilda is such a cuddle bug and can often be found snuggled under her bed and blankets, waiting for the right human to join her! Come meet Matilda at HSCC today!

CATS/DOGS/KIDS: Matilda has lived with a dog, other cats and children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

HSCC is always looking for fosters! Our foster program provides essential care to orphaned, pregnant, newborn, injured, sick and under-socialized animals. If you’re interested in becoming a foster for HSCC, visit hsccvt.org/foster-care to learn more and apply!

Sponsored by:

housing » APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES on the road » CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES pro services »

CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING buy this stuff »

APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE music »

INSTRUCTION, CASTING, INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

CLASSIFIEDS

on the road CARS/TRUCKS

CASH FOR CARS

We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled: It doesn’t matter. Get free towing & same-day cash. Newer models, too. Call 1-866-5359689. (AAN CAN)

DONATE YOU CAR FOR KIDS

Fast, free pickup. Running or not. 24-hour response. Maximum tax donation. Help fi nd missing kids! Call 1-855-504-1540. (AAN CAN)

housing HOUSING WANTED

PRIVATE CAREGIVER NEEDS ROOM

Professional available for caregiving in your home in the Shelburne area, or just rent the room. Comes with friendly 20-lb. dog. Contact Lorraine Paul: 860-307-9419.

FOR RENT

FURNISHED STUDIO

CALAIS

Bright studio apt. for rent, avail. Nov. 1, in my home w/ a private entrance, porch w/ a view & 1 parking spot. No pets, NS. $975/mo. incl. all utils. mmelekos@ gmail.com

BURLINGTON Burlington Hill Section, single room, on bus line. No cooking. No pets.

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

Linens furnished. Utils. incl. 862-2389.

HOUSEMATES

HOUSEMATE ROOM RENTAL SOBU

Rent room in townhouse/condo near bus line, U-Mall. Responsible female adult. Must love & respect indoor cats! Shared/furnished living space, bring own bedroom furniture. Wi-Fi/utils., parking, W/D. $1,000/mo. Avail. Nov. 15. Refs required. Call 802-274-2087.

LAND

FERRISBURGH LAND FOR SALE

6.8 treed & open acres. Incl. post & beam 26’x36’ barn, driveway, pond, septic design, electricity on-site. $140,500. 802-877-1529.

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE AT MAIN STREET LANDING

on Burlington’s waterfront. Beautiful, healthy, affordable spaces for your business. Visit mainstreetlanding.com & click on space avail. Melinda, 864-7999.

S. BURLINGTON OFFICE SUITE

Quiet, elegant, sunny suite for attorney, therapist, lawyer, nonprofi t, etc. 1st fl oor accessible, 900 sq.ft., 3 offi ces, waiting room, kitchenette, restroom, parking. Avail. now. Pierson House, Lakewood Commons, 1233 Shelburne Rd. $1,350/mo. Call 802-863-5255.

COMPUTER

services: $12 (25 words) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 x120

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM

Train online to get the skills to become a computer & help desk professional now. Grants & scholarships avail. for certain programs for qualifi ed applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-888-281-1442. (AAN CAN)

FINANCIAL/LEGAL

CREDIT CARD DEBT RELIEF!

Reduce payment by up to 50%. Get 1 low affordable payment/mo. Reduce interest. Stop calls. Free no-obligation consultation. Call 1-855761-1456. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

COCONUT OIL MASSAGE

Massage & personal training services, outcalls only. For more info, see the online ad. pete_bellini@pm.me.

MASSAGE FOR MEN BY SERGIO

e weather is cooling off. Time for a massage to ease those aches & pains. Call me & make an appointment: 802-3247539, sacllunas@gmail. com.

PAIN RELIEF

Fire cupping, refl exology, Reiki, Rolfi ng, fascial release. Get out of pain. Doesn’t hurt. 60-, 90- or 120-minute sessions. S. Burlington, Mon.-Fri., fl ex weekends. @Fullbodyconnection, fullbodyconnection@ gmail.com.

PSYCHIC COUNSELING

stress & trauma, end-of-life issues. Locally & virtually. Judy Carr: 802-487-8077, transitiondoula.org

HOME/GARDEN

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES

In as little as 1 day! Affordable prices. No payments for 18 mos. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts avail. Call 1-866-370-2939. (AAN CAN)

HOME ORGANIZER/ DECLUTTERER

Drowning in clutter? Spruce up for the holidays! Experienced & professional. Services: organizing by room/ home, packing/unpacking, selling/donating items. $45/hr, fully vaccinated. Refs. upon request. declutterbtv@ gmail.com.

INTERIOR PAINTING SERVICE

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SAFETY UPDATES FOR BATHTUBS

BathWraps is looking for homeowners with older homes who want a quick safety update. ey do not remodel entire bathrooms, but update bathtubs with new liners for safe bathing & showering. ey specialize in grab bars, nonslip surfaces & shower seats. All updates are completed in 1 day. Call 1-866-531-2432. (AAN CAN)

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EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact:

HUD Office of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309

— OR —

Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

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Legal Notices

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT:

CALL

EXT.

BURLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

Burlington School District, working with WhitingTurner Contracting Company (WT) as their construction manager, is accepting subcontractor Pre-qualifi cation submissions for the Burlington High School & Technical Center Project. e project is a new 250,000 SF school and we will be interested in hearing from subcontractors related to ALL DIVISIONS of work.

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e BSD Board has an established pre-qualifi cation criteria that all subcontractors interested in bidding on any component of the project that exceeds $500k will be required to meet. e project is anticipated to take place from the Spring of 2023 through Fall 2025. Interested firms may obtain the full RFQ package by e-mailing Dylan. Lozier@whiting-turner.com

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT CHARLOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL PREQUALIFICATION INFORMATION FOR Electrical Subcontractors

e Champlain Valley School District is seeking interested Electrical Subcontractors to prequalify for an improvement project at Charlotte Central School, 408 Hinesburg Road, Charlotte, Vermont 05445. e scope of improvements for this subcontract includes Electrical Systems upgrades, Emergency/Standby systems upgrades, Fire Alarm upgrades, Security System integration, and Lighting upgrades. e school district will be executing a single contract with a Construction Manager (DEW Construction, Williston, VT, hereinafter referred to as the CM) for all the work but requires that the Electrical Subcontractor that the CM will hire be prequalifi ed for its portion of the work.

PREQUALIFICATION INFORMATION FOR Fire Protection Subcontractors

e Champlain Valley School District is seeking interested Fire Protection Subcontractors to pre-qualify for an improvement project at Charlotte Central School, 408 Hinesburg Road, Charlotte, Vermont 05445. e scope of improvements for this subcontract includes installation of a new Fire Protection (sprinkler) system, fire pump, connections to underground water storage tanks by others, and associated work. e school district will be executing a single contract with a Construction Manager (DEW Construction, Williston, VT, hereinafter referred to as the CM) for all the work but requires that the Fire Protection Subcontractor that the CM will hire be prequalifi ed for its portion of the work.

Please refer to the CVSD website RFP page for the full information. https://www.cvsdvt.org/ domain/377

CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT NOTICE & WARNING OF VOTE TO INCUR A BONDED DEBT

e legal voters of the City of Burlington, Vermont are hereby notifi ed and warned to come and vote at a Special City Meeting on Tuesday, the 8th day of November, 2022 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in their respective wards, at the voting places hereinafter named, for the following purposes:

To vote upon two bonding articles placed on the ballot by request of the the Board of School Commissioners by action of the Commissioners duly approved, said special article being as follows:

AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS BONDS TO BUILD NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND TECHNICAL CENTER

“Shall the City Council be authorized to pledge the credit of the City through the issuance of general obligation bonds or notes, in one or more series, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred and Sixty Five Million ($165,000,000) Dollars for the purpose constructing a new Burlington High School and Burlington Technical Center primarily at its Institute Road site, and making other capital improvements related thereto, with the understanding that bonds may be issued

under the March 2017 voter approval in order to construct facilities for the Burlington High School?

Total Current Estimated Cost of Capital Improvements: $190 Million.

State funds may not be available at the time this project is otherwise eligible to receive State school construction aid. e School District is responsible for all costs incurred in connection with any borrowing done in anticipation of State school construction aid.”

e following are designated as polling places, viz:

Ward One/East District: Mater Christi School, 100 Mansfi eld Ave.

Ward Two/Central District: H.O. Wheeler School (Integrated Arts Academy), 6 Archibald St.

Ward ree/Central District: Lawrence Barnes School (Sustainability Academy), 123 North St.

Ward Four/North District: Saint Mark’s Youth Center, 1271 North Ave.

Ward Five/South District: Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine St.

Ward Six/South District: Edmunds Middle School, 275 Main St.

Ward Seven/North District: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, 130 Gosse Ct.

Ward Eight/East District: Fletcher Free Library, 235 College St.

e polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Miro Weinberger, Mayor

Publication Dates: October 19, October 26, November 3 Burlington, Vermont

ESSEX WESTFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Albert D. Lawton Middle School Visual Arts Fit-Up Project

Essex Jct, Vermont

Issued: October 25,2022

Due: No Later an November 17, 2022 2:00 P.M. EST

For full details go to the EWSD link

NOTICE TO VOTERS FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2022 BURLINGTON SPECIAL CITY ELECTION BEFORE ELECTION DAY:

CHECKLIST POSTED at Clerk’s Offi ce by Sunday, October 9, 2022. If your name is not on the checklist, then you must register to vote. You may also check your voter registration status at https://mvp.vermont.gov. SAMPLE BALLOTS will be posted by Wednesday, October 19, 2022

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE: ere is no deadline to register to vote. You will be able to register to vote on the day of the election. You can register prior by visiting the town clerk’s offi ce or going online to olvr.vermont.gov.

EARLY or ABSENTEE BALLOTS: All registered Burlington voters will be automatically mailed absentee ballots for this election. e latest you can request ballots to be mailed for the November 8, 2022 Election is by the close of the City Clerk’s offi ce at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 4th, 2022. Ballots can be requested in-person at the City Clerk’s offi ce until 1:00pm on Monday, November 7th, 2022.

WAYS TO VOTE YOUR EARLY BALLOT:

• Mail or deliver the ballot mailed to you back to the City Clerk’s Offi ce before Election Day, dropped off at one of the City’s fi ve Drop Boxes, or return it to your polling place before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

• Please contact the City Clerk’s Offi ce if you have not received your ballot in the mail by October 3rd, 2022. • If you are sick or disabled before Election Day, ask the City Clerk to have two justices of the peace bring a ballot to you at your home.

(Ballots can be delivered on any of the eight days preceding the day of the election or on the day of election.)

ON ELECTION DAY:

If your name was dropped from the checklist in error, or has not been added even though you submitted a timely application for addition to the checklist, you can fill out a new registration form.

• If the clerk or Board for Registration of Voters does not add your name, you can appeal the decision to a superior court judge, who will settle the matter on Election Day. Call the Secretary of State’s Office at 1-800-439-VOTE (439-8683) for more information.

If you are a first time voter who submitted your application to the checklist individually by mail and did not submit the required document, you must provide a current and valid photo identification, or a bank statement, utility bill, or government docu ment that contains your name/current address.

If you have physical disabilities, are visually impaired or can’t read, you may have assistance from any person of your choice. If any voters you know have disabilities, let them know they can have assistance from any person of their choice. You may also use the accessible voting system to mark your ballot. If you want to use the accessible voting system tell the entrance checklist official. An election official will take you to the accessible ballot marking device, enter a security code, and then leave you to mark and print your ballot privately. More details about our new accessible ballot marking device are available at https://sos. vermont.gov/elections/voters/accessible-voting/

If you know voters who cannot get from the car into the polling place let them know that ballot(s) may be brought to their car by two election officials.

If you have any questions or need assistance while voting, ask your town clerk or any election official for help.

NO PERSON SHALL:

• Vote more than once per election, either in the same town or in different towns.

• Mislead the Board for Registration of Voters about your own or another person’s true residency or other eligibility to vote.

• Hinder or impede a voter going into or from the polling place.

• Socialize in a manner that could disturb other voters in the polling place.

• Offer, bribe, threaten or exercise undue influence to dictate or control the vote of another person.

FOR HELP OR INFORMATION: Call the Secretary of State’s Office at 1-800-439-VOTE (439-8683). (Accessible by TDD)

If you believe that any of your voting rights have been violated, you may file an Administrative Complaint with the Secretary of State’s Office, 128 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633.

If you believe you have witnessed efforts to commit any kind of fraud or corruption in the voting process, you may report this to your local United States Attorney’s Office.

If you have witnessed actual or attempted acts of discrimination or intimidation in the voting process, you may report this to the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice at (800) 253-3931.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTERS using Vote Tabulator Ballots

CHECK-IN AND RECEIVE BALLOTS:

• Go to the entrance checklist table.

• Give name and, if asked, street address to the election official in a loud voice.

• Wait until your name is repeated and checked off by the official.

• An election official will give you a ballot.

• Enter within the guardrail and go to a vacant voting booth.

MARK YOUR BALLOT:

For each office listed on the ballot, you will see instructions to “Vote for not more than one, or Vote for not more than two, etc.”

• To vote for a candidate, fill in the oval to the right of the name of the candidate you want to vote for. • WRITE-IN candidate(s). To vote for someone whose name is not printed on the ballot, use the blank

CLASSIFIEDS »

“write-in” lines on the ballot and either write-in the name or paste on sticker, then fill in the oval.

CAST YOUR VOTE by depositing your voted ballot into the vote tabulating machine.

LEAVE the voting area immediately by passing outside the guardrail.

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Administrative Rules of the Board of Nursing. Vermont Proposed Rule: 22P025

AGENCY: Board of Nursing

CONCISE SUMMARY: This strike-and-rewrite update to the Administrative Rules of the Board of Nursing reflects substantial changes in the legal and practice landscape since the last rule update in January 2015. The rule minimizes administrative burdens, conforms to license uniformity and streamlining legislation in Title 3, and provides for the administration of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), to which Vermont became a party state in February 2022. The rule articulates clear nursing practice standards, completing a multi-year effort by the Board and its Practice Committee to refine a body of non-rule position statements, retire those that were dated or unnecessary, and incorporate into rule those that were seen to warrant retention. Finally, the rule adds more flexible avenues by which to demonstrate ongoing nursing competency, ending exclusive reliance on practice hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Gabriel Gilman, Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier Vermont, 05620-3402 Tel: (802)828-2492 Email: gabriel.gilman@vermont.gov URL: https://sos. vermont.gov/nursing/statutes-rules-resources/.

FOR COPIES: Kelsi Alger, Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier Vermont, 05620-3402 Tel: 802-828-2191 Email: kelsi.alger@vermont.gov.

Rule on Alternative Preparatory Paths for Funeral Directors and Embalmers.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 22P026

AGENCY: Board of Funeral Services

CONCISE SUMMARY: This is an amendment to the current Rule on Alternative Preparatory Path for Funeral Directors that establishes a program of apprenticeship and study for aspirants to funeral director licensure who have not attended a school of funeral service. The amendment to this rule adds a program of apprenticeship and study for those who seek to become a licensed embalmer. Additionally, minor revisions were made to the section of the rule pertaining to funeral directors. The number of credits for the required coursework topics in section (a) were removed in anticipation of the number of credits potentially changing in the future based on the

specific college, university or career and technical school’s requirements. In section (c) the specific Community College of Vermont course sequence with corresponding credits was removed to allow for future colleges, universities, and career and technical centers to create their own programs. Sections (a) and (c) of the embalmer section of the rule mirrors these revisions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lauren Layman, Office of Professional Regulation, 89 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05620-3402 Tel: 802-828-2883 Email: lauren.layman@vermont.gov URL: https://sos.vermont.gov/funeral-service/ statutes-rules-resources/.

FOR COPIES: Kelsi Alger, Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier Vermont, 05620-3402 Tel: 802-828-2191 Email: kelsi.alger@vermont.gov.

Administrative Rules for Notary Public Continuing Education. Vermont Proposed Rule: 22P027

AGENCY: Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation

CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed rule requires that notaries public complete one hour (60 minutes) of continuing education related to the Vermont laws and requirements for performing notarial acts every two years. The completion of the course is required for a notary public to renew their commission. The notary public course may be offered in many different formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lauren Layman, Office of Professional Regulation, 89 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05620-3402 Tel: 802-828-2883 Email: lauren.layman@vermont.gov URL: https://sos.vermont.gov/notaries-public/ statutes-rules-resources/.

FOR COPIES: Kelsi Alger, Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier Vermont, 05620-3402 Tel: 802-828-2191 Email: kelsi.alger@vermont.gov.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN/BUILD MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR

Cathedral Square is seeking proposals from qualified Design/Build Mechanical Contractors for renovation work at our Cathedral Square Senior Living property, located at 3 Cathedral / 16 Cherry Street in Burlington, VT. Interested contractors should contact Cathedral Square’s Project Manager, Greg Montgomery (montgomery@ cathedralsquare.org), for complete RFP details and the project’s Scope of Work. The project is also listed on Works In Progress. Responses are due by 3pm on November 18, 2022. Cathedral Square is an equal opportunity employer. Women Owned, Minority Owned, Locally Owned and Section 3 Businesses are encouraged to apply.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT CASE NO. 22-CV-03661

IN RE: ABANDONED MOBILE HOME OF MICHAEL GOODMAN, JR.

NOTICE OF HEARING

A hearing on Milton Mobile Home Cooperative, Inc.’s Verified Complaint to declare as abandoned the mobile home of Michael Goodman, Jr. located at the Milton Mobile Home Co-op, Lot #78, 44 Rita Way in Milton, Vermont to authorize the transfer without a public auction, so it may be removed and disposed of has been set for November 16, 2022 at 1:30 PM. To participate in this hearing, the WEBEX Login Information is as follows: App: Cisco Webex Meeting Website: https://vtcourts.webex.com Meeting Number: 129 647 6521 Password: CIVIL2

If you do not have a computer or sufficient bandwidth, you may call (408) 418-9388 to appear by phone. (This is not a tollfree number). You will then enter the meeting number and password

listed above. If you have technical difficulties, call the Court at (802) 863-3467.

Date: October 17, 2022 Nancy L. Bean, Judicial Assistant

VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR ABANDONMENT PURSUANT TO 10 V.S.A. § 6249(i) (Uninhabitable)

NOW COMES Milton Mobile Home Cooperative, Inc. (“MMHC”), by and through its counsel Nadine L. Scibek, and hereby complains as follows:

1. MMHC, a Vermont cooperative corporation with a principal place of business in Milton, County of Chittenden, State of Vermont, is the record owner of a mobile home park known as the Milton Mobile Home Co-op (the “Park”) located in the Town of Milton, Vermont.

2. Michael Goodman, Jr. (“Goodman”) is the record owner of a certain mobile home described as 1974 Skyline, 14’ x 66’, bearing Serial #602941 (the “Mobile Home”) located on Lot #78 at the Milton Mobile Home Co-op, 44 Rita Way in Milton, Vermont according to the Town of Milton Land Records. See attached Bill of Sale and Town of Milton Grand List Parcel Report.

3. Goodman leased Lot #78 in the Park from MMHC pursuant to a written lease. See attached Subscription Agreement.

4. Goodman’s last known mailing address is 44 Rita Way, Milton, VT 05468.

5. Goodman was evicted from the Park for nonpayment of lot rent and cause on June 8, 2022. A Judgment Order for the outstanding lot rent and court costs was entered against Goodman on May 23, 2022 in the amount of $2,258.46. See Milton Mobile Home Cooperative, Inc. v. Goodman, Jr., Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Civil Unit, Case No. 22-CV-01503. See attached Judgment Order, Writ of Possession & Sheriff’s Return of Service.

6. The mobile home has been abandoned and is empty. The last known resident of the mobile home was Goodman. All utility services have been terminated to the Mobile Home.

7. HFI’s counsel has attempted to communicate in writing with Goodman by first class mail regarding his intentions with the mobile home. See attached.

Goodman contacted Silvia Iannetta, Property Manager for MMHC in August, 2022 and indicated that he was trying to sell the Mobile Home. To date MMHC has not received any applications from perspective buyers to reside in the Park and has not heard anything further from Goodman.

8. After he was evicted from the Mobile Home, Goodman applied to Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“VERAP”) and was approved for payment of amounts owed on the Judgment Order dated May 23, 2022 along with future rent through October, 2022.

MMHC received payment on August 1, 2022.

9. The following security interests, mortgages, liens and encumbrances appear of record with respect to the mobile home:

a. Goodman is in arrears on obligations to pay property taxes to the Town of Milton, Vermont in the amount of $787.29, plus interest and penalties for delinquent taxes. The delinquent property taxes are now a lien on the property. See attached Delinquent Tax Statement and current Tax Bill.

10. Mobile home lot rent/storage fees continue to accrue at the rate of $390.00 per month. Monies due to MMHC as of October, 2022 total $117.00. Attorney’s fees incurred by MMHC currently exceed $1,000.00. See attached Statement.

11. MMHC sent written notice by certified mail to the Town of Milton on September 13, 2022 of Plaintiff’s intent to commence this action. See attached.

12. The mobile home is uninhabitable. Kim Miner, Agent for MMHC, will testify under oath as to the poor and unlivable condition of this mobile home at the abandonment hearing.

WHEREFORE, MMHC respectfully requests that the Honorable Court enter an order as follows:

1. Declare that the mobile home has been abandoned;

2. Transfer the mobile home that is unfit for human habitation to Park owner MMHC without a public auction so that it may be removed and disposed of accordingly.

3. Order pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6249(j) that the mobile home and any security deposit paid be

Legal Notices

[CONTINUED]

conveyed to the Park Owner in “as is” condition, and free from all liens and other encumbrances of record.

DATED this 14 th day of October, 2022.

MILTON MOBILE HOME COOPERATIVE, INC. BY: Nadine L. Scibek Attorney for MMHC

I declare that the above statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that if the above statement is false, I will be subject to the penalty of perjury or other sanctions in the discretion of the Court.

October 14, 2022 By: Silvia Iannetta, Duly Authorized Agent for MMHC

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 22-CV-03583

Frederick and Elizabeth Dusablon, Plaintiffs v. Windsor Capital Mortgage Corporation, Defendant.

SUMMONS AND ORDER OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

This case concerns a request for declaratory judgement pursuant to 27 V.S.A. § 469 that the two mortgages held by the Defendant, a private corporation which has been dissolved without providing anyone the authority execute a discharge on its behalf, are of no force of law and entitled to judicial discharge. This action places at issue Defendant’s interest in real property located at 76 Handy Avenue, Burlington, Vermont as documented by two mortgage deeds recorded in Volume 1012 at Pages 548 and in Volume 1012 at Pages 565 of the City of Burlington Land Records.

THIS SUMMONS IS BEING DIRECTED TO: Windsor Capital Mortgage Corporation

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. A copy of the Plaintiff’s Complaint against you is on file and may be obtained at the office of the clerk of this court, Chittenden, Civil Division, Vermont Superior Court, 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05402. Do not throw this paper away it is an official paper that affects your rights.

2. PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM. Plaintiff’s claim is a Complaint for Declaratory Judgement which alleges that they are entitled to relief under 27 V.S.A. § 469 as you are a private corporation whose charter has expired who is the record holder of two Mortgage Deeds dated November 12, 2005 and recorded in Volume 1012 at Pages 548 and in Volume 1012 at Pages 565 of the City of Burlington Land Records. A copy of the Complaint is on file and may be obtained at the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of the County of Chittenden, State of Vermont.

3. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 30 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail the Plaintiff a written response called an Answer within 30 days after the date on which this Summons was first published, which is October 19, 2022. You must send a copy of your answer to the Plaintiff or the Plaintiff’s attorney, W. Cooper Hayes, Esq. of MSK Attorneys located at 275 College Street, Burlington, VT 05406.

4. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the

Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your answer.

5. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT GIVE YOUR WRITTEN ANSWER TO THE COURT. If you do not Answer within 30 days after the date on which this Summons was first published and file it with the Court, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint.

6. YOU MUST MAKE ANY CLAIMS AGAINST THE PLAINTIFF IN YOUR REPLY. Your Answer must state any related legal claims you have against the Plaintiff. Your claims against the Plaintiff are called Counterclaims. If you do not make your Counterclaims in writing in your answer you may not be able to bring them up at all. Even if you have insurance and the insurance company will defend you, you must still file any Counterclaims you may have.

7. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you should ask the court clerk for information about places where you can get free legal help. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still give the court a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

The Affidavit duly filed in this action shows that service cannot be made with due diligence by any of the method provided in Rules 4(d)-(f), (k), or (l) of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that service of the Summons set forth above shall be made upon the defendant, Windsor Capital Mortgage Corporation, by publication as provided in Rule[s] [4(d)(l) and] 4 (g) of those Rules.

This order shall be published once a week for 3 weeks beginning on October 19, 2022 in the Seven Days, a newspaper of the general circulation in Chittenden County, and in The Press Democrat, a newspaper of the general circulation in Sonoma County, California, and a copy of this commons and order as published shall be mailed to the last known address of the defendant, Windsor Capital Mortgage Corporation, at 2777 Yulupa Ave #157, Santa Rosa, CA 95405.

DATED at Burlington, Vermont this 12th day of October, 2022.

By: /s/ Helen M. Toor Superior Judge

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT CASE NO. 22-CV-03666

IN RE: ABANDONED MOBILE HOME OF JOSHUA SENNA, RENATA PRIM & BRADLEY SENNA

NOTICE OF HEARING

A hearing on The Housing Foundation, Inc.’s Verified Complaint to declare abandoned the mobile home of Joshua Senna, Renata Prim and Bradley Senna located at the Windemere Mobile Home Park, Lot #47, 54 Mount Sterling Avenue in Colchester, Vermont to authorize the transfer without a public auction, so it may be removed and disposed of has been set for November 16, 2022 at 1:45 PM.

To participate in this hearing, the WEBEX Login Informationis as follows:

App: Cisco Webex Meeting Website: https://vtcourts.webex.com Meeting Number: 129 647 6521 Password: CIVIL2

If you do not have a computer or sufficient bandwidth, you may call (408) 418-9388 to appear

by phone. (This is not a tollfree number). You will then enter the meeting number and password listed above. If you have technical difficulties, call the Court at (802) 863-3467. Date: October 17, 2022 Nancy L. Bean, Judicial Assistant

VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR ABANDONMENT PURSUANT TO 10 V.S.A. § 6249(i) (Uninhabitable)

NOW COMES The Housing Foundation, Inc. (“HFI”), by and through its counsel Nadine L. Scibek, and hereby complains pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6249(i) as follows:

1. HFI, a Vermont non-profit corporation with a principal place of business in Montpelier, County of Washington, State of Vermont, is the record owner of a mobile home park known as the Windemere Mobile Home Park (the “Park”), located in the Town of Colchester, Vermont. The Park is managed by the Vermont State Housing Authority.

2. Joshua Senna (“J. Senna”), Renata Prim (“Prim”) and Bradley Senna (“B. Senna”) are the record owners of a certain mobile home described as 1995 Oakland, 12’ x 56’, bearing Serial #PAFL522A67751OLI (the “Mobile Home”) located on Lot #47 at the Windemere Mobile Home Park, 54 Mount Sterling Avenue in Colchester, Vermont according to the Town of Colchester Land Records. See attached Bill of Sale.

3. J. Senna leased Lot #47 in the Park from HFI pursuant to a written lease. J. Senna paid a security deposit in the amount of $421.00 to HFI. Prim and B. Senna neither signed a lease with HFI nor resided in the Mobile Home. See attached Lease.

4. J. Senna’s last known mailing address is 54 Mount Sterling Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446. Prim’s last known mailing address is 3 Keel Road, Grand Isle, VT 05458. B. Senna’s last known mailing address is 220 Main Street, Apt. C, Winooski, VT 05404.

5. J. Senna was evicted from the Park for nonpayment of lot rent on June 23, 2022. A Judgment Order for the outstanding lot rent and court costs was entered against J. Senna on May 10, 2022 in the amount of $4,891.62. See The Housing Foundation, Inc. v. Senna, Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Civil Unit, Docket No. 22-CV-01452. See attached Judgment Order, Writ of Possession & Sheriff’s Return of Service.

6. The last known resident of the mobile home was J. Senna. J. Senna is believed to still be residing in the mobile home despite the execution of the Writ of Possession on June 23, 2022. He is trespassing. All utility services have been terminated to the Mobile Home.

7. HFI’s counsel has attempted to communicate in writing with J. Senna by first class mail regarding his intentions with the mobile home. He has failed to respond. See attached.

8. The following security interests, mortgages, liens and encumbrances appear of record with respect to the mobile home:

a. J. Senna, Prim & B. Senna are in arrears on obligations to pay property taxes to the Town of Colchester, Vermont in the amount of $4,819.04, plus interest and penalties for delinquent taxes. See attached Tax Bill & Delinquent Tax Report.

9. Mobile home lot rent/storage fees continue to accrue at the rate of $476.00 per month. Monies due to HFI as of October, 2022 total $6,179.32. Attorney’s fees and court costs incurred by HFI currently exceed $1,000.00. See attached Account History.

10. HFI sent written notice by certified mail to the Town of Colchester on September 8, 2022 of Plaintiff’s intent to commence this action. See attached.

11. The mobile home is uninhabitable. Property Manager Thomas Young, duly authorized agent for HFI, will testify under oath as to the poor and

unlivable condition of this mobile home at the abandonment hearing.

WHEREFORE, HFI respectfully requests that the Honorable Court enter an order as follows:

1. Declare that the mobile home has been abandoned;

2. Transfer the mobile home that is unfit for human habitation to Park owner HFI without a public auction so that it may be removed and disposed of accordingly.

3. Order pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6249(j) that the mobile home and any security deposit paid be conveyed to the Park Owner in “as is” condition, and free from all liens and other encumbrances of record.

DATED this 14 th day of October, 2022.

THE HOUSING FOUNDATION, INC.

BY: Nadine L. Scibek Attorney for HFI

I declare that the above statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that if the above statement is false, I will be subject to the penalty of perjury or other sanctions in the discretion of the Court. October 14, 2022 By: Thomas Young, Duly Authorized Agent for HFI

TOWN OF BOLTON’S COMBINED NOTICE OF TAX SALE

The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, mortgagees and all persons interested in the purchase of land in the Town of Bolton, County of Chittenden and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2021-2022 and prior fiscal years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described lands and/or premises situated in the Town of Bolton:

Property No. 1: Intentionally Left Blank.

Property No. 2: Property commonly known and numbered as 97 West Street, being a 1997 Redman make, Flamingo model, 14’x70’ mobile home with serial number 12232313, owned by Milagro P. Hemenway, conveyed to him by Vermont Mobile Home Uniform Bill of Sale of Barbara Stanley, dated April 8, 2019, and of record in Book 96 at Pages 160-161 of the Town of Bolton Land Records.

Property No. 3:

Property commonly known and numbered as 363 Sharkeyville Road, being 1 acre, more or less, owned by Lawrence N. Moran, conveyed to him by Warranty Deed of Richard R. Bosley, Sr., dated August 31, 2001, and of record in Book 55 at Pages 407-409 of the Town of Bolton Land Records.

Property No. 4: Intentionally Left Blank.

Said lands and/or premises will be sold at a public auction at the Bolton Town Office, 3045 Theodore Roosevelt Highway (U.S. Route 2), Bolton, Vermont, on Thursday the 17th day of November 2022, at Ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 a.m.), to discharge such taxes with costs, unless the same are previously paid. Information regarding the amount of taxes due may be obtained at the offices of Stitzel, Page & Fletcher, P.C., P.O. Box 1507, Burlington, Vermont 05402- 1507, (802) 6602555.

DATED at Bolton, in the County of Chittenden and State of Vermont, this 3rd day of October 2022.

/s/ Amy Grover

Amy Grover, Delinquent Tax Collector

Town of Bolton, Vermont

TOWN OF ESSEX SELECTBOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 7, 2022 6:35 P.M.

The Selectboard of the Town of Essex shall hold a public hearing at 6:35 p.m. on November 7, 2022, at the Town Offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct. and electronically on Zoom. You can find the link at

CLASSIFIEDS »

www.essexvt.org or join via conference call (audio only): (888) 788-0099 | Meeting ID: 987 8569 1140; Passcode: 032060

The purpose of the public hearing is to consider final passage of Chapter 6.11, Public Nuisance, of the Municipal Ordinance, including the deletion of existing Chapter 5.09, Open Fires, and Chapter 6.12, Public Indecency. Open Fires and Public Indecency ordinances are included Chapter 6.11.

The Selectboard of the Town of Essex hereby ordains that changes be made to create Municipal Ordinance, Chapter 6.11, Public Nuisance, and to delete Chapter 5.09, Open Fires, and Chapter 6.12, Public Indecency. The purpose of the provisions is to provide ordinances regarding public nuisances, including disorderly conduct; excessive sound; public urination / defecation; public nudity; soliciting; defacing buildings, structures and signs; alcohol; open fires; and fireworks.

Full text of the proposed revisions may be examined at the Essex Town Offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct., VT, or online at www.essexvt.org.

Should the Town of Essex Selectboard adopt these ordinances, they will become effective immedi ately. Citizens have the right to petition for a vote on the ordinance at an annual or special meeting pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973. Five (5) percent of the qualified voters of the Town of Essex, by written petition filed with the Town Clerk no later than forty-four (44) days following the date of adoption by the Selectboard, may request that the voters of the Town disapprove of the Selectboard’s action at a duly warned annual or special meeting.

Please direct questions to Lt. Robert Kissinger at rkissinger@essex.org or 802-878-8331.

WARNING & NOTICE 2022 SPECIAL CITY MEETING

The legal voters of the City of Burlington, Vermont are hereby warned and notified to come and vote at a Special City Meeting on Tuesday, the 8th day of November, 2022 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in their respective wards, at the voting places hereinafter named and designated as polling places, viz:

Ward One/East District: Mater Christi School, 100 Mansfield Ave.

Ward Two/Central District: H.O. Wheeler School (Integrated Arts Academy), 6 Archibald St.

Ward Three/Central District: Lawrence Barnes School (Sustainability Academy), 123 North St.

Ward Four/North District: Saint Mark’s Youth Center, 1271 North Ave.

Ward Five/South District: Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine St.

Ward Six/South District: Edmunds Middle School, 275 Main St.

Ward Seven/North District: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, 130 Gosse Ct.

Ward Eight/East District: Fletcher Free Library, 235 College St.

The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of electing certain city officers as follows:

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE – fifteen Justices of the Peace for two-year terms; all terms beginning February 1, 2023

The legal voters shall also vote upon one special article being placed on the ballot by request of the Board of School Commissioners by action of the Commissioners duly approved, said special article being as follows:

AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS BONDS TO BUILD NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND TECHNICAL CENTER

“Shall the City Council be authorized to pledge the credit of the City through the issuance of general obligation bonds or notes, in one or more series, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred and Sixty Five Million ($165,000,000) Dollars for the purpose constructing a new Burlington High

School and Burlington Technical Center primar ily at its Institute Road site, and making other capital improvements related thereto, with the understanding that bonds may be issued under the March 2017 voter approval in order to construct facilities for the Burlington High School?

Total Current Estimated Cost of Capital Improvements: $ 190 Million.

State funds may not be available at the time this project is otherwise eligible to receive State school construction aid. The School District is responsible for all costs incurred in connection with any borrowing done in anticipation of State school construction aid.”

WARNING CHITTENDEN SOLID WASTE DISTRICT

SPECIAL MEETING – NOVEMBER 8, 2022

The legal voters of the Chittenden Solid Waste District (the “District”) are hereby notified and warned to meet in a special meeting on November 8, 2022, at the times and polling places hereinafter named, to vote, by Australian ballot, upon a certain article as set forth below, by request of the Board of Commissioners of the District (the “Board”) by resolution duly adopted:

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

The Board, at a special meeting held November 8, 2022, has determined that the public interest and necessity require the construction of a new materials recovery facility within the District, as described in more detail below, and that the cost of financing such project is too great to be paid out of the ordinary annual income and revenue of the District.

Object and Purpose of the Project

The District currently owns a materials recovery facility located in Williston, which is operated under contract by Casella Waste Management.

In recognition of the much-needed updates and im provements to the materials recovery facility and the increased recycling needs of the District and its residents, the District intends to construct a new materials recovery facility to increase capacity and serve the long-term needs of the District and its residents (the “Project”). The Project is expected to be constructed on land owned by the District.

Estimated Costs of the Project

The estimated cost of the Project is $26,000,000. A portion of the cost will be paid from funds currently held by the District, and the remainder of such costs will be financed by the District through the issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations.

Amount of Indebtedness Proposed to be Authorized and Method of Repayment

The Board has resolved that the District issue gen eral obligation bonds, notes, or other obligations, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $22,000,000 and enter into certain long-term contracts for the object and purpose of financing the costs of the Project, costs of issuance, and the funding of any reserves deemed necessary or desirable by the Board (collectively, the Project Financing”).

The Board has resolved that the District issue gen eral obligation bonds, notes, or other obligations, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $22,000,000 and enter into certain long-term contracts for the object and purpose of financing the costs of the Project, costs of issuance, and the funding of any reserves deemed necessary or desirable by the Board (collectively, the Project Financing”).

The maximum principal amount of the District’s general obligation bonds, notes, or other obligations proposed to be authorized for the costs of the Project is $22,000,000. If authorization is obtained from the voters of the District, the District may issue such general obligation bonds, notes, or indebted ness from time to time and in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed such amount.

The District’s indebtedness under the Project Financing is intended to be repaid from fees and revenues collected from the users of the Project.

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The Board intends to establish user fees at levels expected to be sufficient to enable the District to make timely payments of all amounts due under the Project Financing, including debt service on District obligations. If, however, the user fees are insufficient to enable the District to make timely payments of all amounts due under the Project Financing, the District will collect the deficiency from assessments to its member municipalities, in accordance with the District’s Charter, which provides that each member municipality shall add such amounts to its budget and assess such tax as is necessary to raise the amount. As provided in the District’s Charter, District obligations incurred under chapter 53 of Title 24, Vermont Statutes Annotated, shall be the joint obligations of the District and of each member municipality.

2. BALLOT QUESTION

In accordance with the foregoing, the Board has ordered the following proposition to be submitted to the qualified voters of the District, consisting of the legal voters of the following member mu nicipalities of the District: the cities of Burlington, South Burlington, and Winooski; the towns of Bolton, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, St. George, Shelburne, Underhill, Westford, and Williston; and the Village of Essex Junction:

I. Approval of General Obligation Bonds for Chittenden Solid Waste District “Shall the Board of Commissioners of the Chittenden Solid Waste District be authorized to issue general obligation bonds or notes, in one or more series, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Twenty Two Million Dollars ($22,000,000) for the purpose of (i) funding capital improvements related to the planning, constructing, and equipping of a new materials recovery facility; (ii) funding a debt service reserve fund; and (iii) paying for associated costs of issuance; it being intended that the source of repayment shall be waste management fees and revenues collected by the District and, to the extent necessary, assessments to member municipalities in accordance with the District’s Charter?”

3. POLLING PLACES AND VOTING INFORMATION

The legal voters of the District shall be entitled to vote at the polling place within the municipality of their residence and within the specific wards or district, if any, as shall be established by the Board of Civil Authority of such municipality. Said Special Meeting shall be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at the following locations, at which polls will be open at the times specified below.

Member Municipality Polling Location(s) Polls Open/Close

Town of Bolton Smilie Memorial School

7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

City of Burlington Ward 1 – Mater Christi School

Ward 2 – HO Wheeler School

Ward 3 – Lawrence Barnes School

Ward 4 – St. Marks Youth Center

Ward 5 – Burlington Electric Department

Ward 6 – Edmunds Middle School

Ward 7 – Robert Miller Community Center

Ward 8 – Fletcher Free Library 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Charlotte Charlotte Town Hall 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Colchester Colchester High School Gymnasium 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Essex

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Essex Middle School 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

City of Essex Junction Essex High School 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Hinesburg Hinesburg Town Hall 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Huntington Brewster-Pierce School 6:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Jericho Mount Mansfield Union High School 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Milton Milton Municipal Office Building 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Richmond Camel’s Hump Middle School 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Saint George Saint George Town Hall 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Shelburne Town Center Gym 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

City of South Burlington Chittenden 8 – City Hall/Senior Center Chittenden 11, 9 – FHT Middle School

Chittenden 10 – Chamberlin School Chittenden 12 – Orchard School 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Underhill Underhill Town Hall 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Westford Westford School 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Town of Williston Williston Armory 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

City of Winooski Winooski Senior Center 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

PUBLIC NOTICE VERMONT STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM

Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) will be opening its waiting list and begin accepting ap plications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program on October 1, 2022, at 7:45am. Beginning October 1, 2022, applications may be completed through the online applicant portal by visiting VSHA’s website at https://www.pha-web.com/ portals/onlineApplication/1635. Paper applications may also be obtained by visiting VSHA’s website at https://www.vsha.org/applications-forsection8-assistance/ or at our office located at One Prospect Street, Montpelier, VT between the hours of 7:45am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday, or by contact Housing Program Administration Intake Division at 802-828-1991. This Notice is being provided in accordance with VSHA’s Administrative Plan for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, which mandates the Authority provide public notice when opening its waiting list. For additional information call: 802-828-3295 (voice); 800-798-3118 (TTY); 800-820-5119 (messages)

Support Groups

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR MOTHERS OF COLOR

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes!

Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Wed., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR SINGLE MOTHERS

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes!

Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Fri., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS W/ LGBTQ+ CHILDREN

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes!

Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Mon., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/family-support-programs.

AL-ANON

For families & friends of alcoholics. Phone meetings, electronic meetings (Zoom), & an Al-Anon blog are avail. online at the Al-Anon website. For meeting info, go to vermontalanonala teen.org or call 866-972-5266.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Do you have a drinking problem? AA meeting sites are now open, & online meetings are also available. Call our hotline at 802 864-1212 or check for in-person or online meetings at www. burlingtonaa.org.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups meet to provide as sistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm date & time. 4 options: 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne; 4th Tue. of every mo., 10-11 a.m., at the Residence at Quarry Hill, 465 Quarry Hill Rd., South Burlington; 2nd Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Alzheimer’s Association Main Office, 300 Cornerstone Dr., Suite 130, Williston; 2nd Mon. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at Milton Public Library, 39 Bombardier Rd., Milton. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION TELEPHONE SUPPORT GROUP

2nd Tue. monthly, 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is req. (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, for more info.

ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS W/ DEBT?

Do you spend more than you earn? Get help at Debtor’s Anonymous & Business Debtor’s Anonymous. Wed., 6:30-7:30 p.m., Methodist Church in the Rainbow Room at Buell & S. Winooski, Burlington. Contact Jennifer, 917-568-6390.

BABY BUMPS SUPPORT GROUP FOR MOTHERS & PREGNANT WOMEN

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time of your life. But it can also be a time of stress often compounded by hormonal swings. If you are a pregnant woman, or have recently given birth & feel you need some help w/ managing emotional bumps in the road that can come w/ motherhood, please come to this free support group led by an experienced pediatric registered nurse. Held on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Birthing Center, Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans. Info: Rhonda Desrochers, Franklin County Home Health Agency, 527-7531.

BETTER BREATHERS CLUB

American Lung Association support group for people w/ breathing issues, their loved ones or caregivers. Meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 11 a.m.-noon at the Godnick Center, 1 Deer St., Rutland. For more info call 802-776-5508.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experi ences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT

Montpelier daytime support group meets on the 3rd Thu. of every mo., at the Unitarian Church ramp entrance, 1:30-2:30 p.m. St. Johnsbury support group meets on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., at the Grace United Methodist Church, 36 Central St., 1-2:30 p.m. Colchester evening support group meets on the 1st Wed. of every mo., at the Fanny Allen Hospital in the Board Room Conference Room, 5:30-7:30 p.m. White River Jct. meets on the 2nd Fri. of every mo., at Bugbee Sr. Ctr. from 3-4:30 p.m. Call our helpline at 877-856-1772.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group will be held every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:45 p.m. via conference call. Newly diagnosed? Prostate cancer reoccurrence? General discussion & sharing among survivors & those beginning or rejoining the battle. Info, Mary L. Guyette RN, MS, ACNS-BC, 274-4990, vmary@aol.com.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY

Overcome any hurt, habit or hang-up in your life w/ this confidential 12-step, Christ-centered recovery program. We offer multiple support groups for both men & women, such as chemical dependency, codependency, sexual addiction & pornography, food issues, & overcoming abuse. All 18+ are welcome; sorry, no childcare. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; we begin at 7 p.m. Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage

Rd., Essex Junction. Info: recovery@ essexalliance.org, 878-8213.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY

Celebrate Recovery meetings are for anyone struggling w/ hurt, habits & hang-ups, which include everyone in some way. We welcome everyone at Cornerstone Church in Milton, which meets every Fri. from 7-9 p.m. We’d love to have you join us & discover how your life can start to change. Info: 893-0530, julie@mccartycreations. com.

CENTRAL VERMONT CELIAC SUPPORT GROUP

Last Thu. of every mo., 7:30 p.m. in Montpelier. Please contact Lisa Mase for location: lisa@harmonizecookery. com.

CEREBRAL PALSY GUIDANCE

Cerebral Palsy Guidance is a very comprehensive informational website broadly covering the topic of cerebral palsy & associated medical conditions. Its mission is to provide the best possible info to parents of children living w/ the complex condition of cerebral palsy. cerebralpalsyguidance. com/cerebral-palsy.

CODEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS

CoDA is a 12-step fellowship for people whose common purpose is to develop healthy & fulfilling relationships. By actively working the program of Codependents Anonymous, we can realize a new joy, acceptance & serenity in our lives. Meets Sun. at noon at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. Tom, 238-3587, coda.org.

DECLUTTERERS’ SUPPORT GROUP

Are you ready to make improvements but find it overwhelming? Maybe 2 or 3 of us can get together to help each other simplify. 989-3234, 425-3612.

DISCOVER THE POWER OF CHOICE!

SMART Recovery welcomes anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity ad diction. It is a science-based program that encourages abstinence. Specially trained volunteer facilitators provide leadership. Sun. at 5 p.m. The meeting has moved to Zoom: smartrecovery. zoom.us/j/92925275515. Volunteer facilitator: Bert, 399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

DIVORCE CARE SUPPORT GROUP

Divorce is a tough road. Feelings of separation, betrayal, confusion, anger & self-doubt are common. But there is life after divorce. Led by people who have already walked down that road, we’d like to share w/ you a safe place & a process that can help make the journey easier. This free 13-week group for men & women will be offered on Sun., 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sep. 8-Dec. 1, at the North Avenue Alliance Church, 901 North Ave., Burlington. Register for class at essexalliance. churchcenter.com. For more info, call Sandy 802-425-7053.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Steps to End Domestic Violence offers a weekly drop-in support group for female-identified survivors of intimate partner violence, including individuals who are experiencing or have been affected by domestic violence. The support group offers a safe, confiden tial place for survivors to connect w/ others, to heal & to recover. In support group, participants talk through their

experiences & hear stories from others who have experienced abuse in their relationships. Support group is also a resource for those who are unsure of their next step, even if it involves remaining in their current relationship. Tue., 6:30-8 p.m. Childcare is provided. Info: 658-1996.

EMPLOYMENT-SEEKERS SUPPORT GROUP

Frustrated w/ the job search or w/ your job? You are not alone. Come check out this supportive circle. Wed. at 3 p.m., Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Abby Levinsohn, 777-8602.

FAMILY & FRIENDS OF THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

This support group is a dedicated meeting for family, friends & com munity members who are supporting a loved one through a mental health crisis. Mental health crisis might include extreme states, psychosis, depression, anxiety & other types of distress. The group is a confidential space where family & friends can discuss shared experiences & receive support in an environment free of judgment & stigma w/ a trained facilitator. Wed., 7-8:30 p.m. Downtown Burlington. Info: Jess Horner, LICSW, 866-218-8586.

FAMILY RESTORED: SUPPORT GROUP FOR FRIENDS & FAMILIES OF ADDICTS & ALCOHOLICS

Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., Holy Family/St. Lawrence Parish, 4 Prospect St., Essex Junction. For further info, please visit thefamilyrestored.org or contact Lindsay Duford at 781-960-3965 or 12lindsaymarie@gmail.com.

FCA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Families Coping with Addiction (FCA) is an open community peer support group for adults (18+) struggling with the drug or alcohol addiction of a loved one. FCA is not 12-step-based but provides a forum for those living the family experience, in which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength from one another. Our group meets every Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., live in person in the conference room at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County (179 S. Winooski Avenue, Burlington), and/or via our parallel Zoom session to accom modate those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom link can be found on the Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt.org) using the “Family Support” tab (click on “What We Offer”). Any questions, please send by email to thdaub1@gmail.com.

FIERCELY FLAT VT

A breast cancer support group for those who’ve had mastectomies. We are a casual online meeting group found on Facebook at Fiercely Flat VT. Info: stacy.m.burnett@gmail.com.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meet ings are held twice a wk.: Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Norwich, Vt.; & Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., at Hanover Friends Meeting House, Hanover, N.H. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts.org.

G.R.A.S.P. (GRIEF RECOVERY AFTER A SUBSTANCE PASSING)

Are you a family member who has lost a loved one to addiction? Find support, peer-led support group. Meets once a mo. on Mon. in Burlington. Please call for date & location. RSVP mkeasler3@ gmail.com or call 310-3301 (message says Optimum Health, but this is a private number).

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Sharing your sadness, finding your joy. Please join us as we learn more about our own grief & explore the things that can help us to heal. There is great power in sharing our experiences w/ others who know the pain of the loss of a loved one & healing is possible through the sharing. BAYADA Hospice’s local bereavement support coordinator will facilitate our weekly group through discussion & activities. Everyone from the community is welcome. 1st & last Wed. of every mo. at 4 p.m. via Zoom. To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Max Crystal, mcrystal@bayada.com or 802-448-1610.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

Meet every 2nd Mon., 6-7:30 p.m., & every 3rd Wed. from 10-11:30 a.m., at Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice in Berlin. The group is open to the public & free of charge. More info: Diana Moore, 224-2241.

HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP

This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at anytime. We choose to share experiences, sup port & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being accept able exactly as they are. Tue., 2-3 p.m. Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 North Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-777-8602, abby@ pathwaysvermont.org.

HELLENBACH CANCER SUPPORT

Call to verify meeting place. Info, 388-6107. People living w/ cancer & their caretakers convene for support.

INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS/PAINFUL BLADDER SUPPORT GROUP

Interstitial cystitis (IC) & painful bladder syndrome can result in recurring pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort in the bladder/pelvic region & urinary frequency/urgency. These are often misdiagnosed & mistreated as a chronic bladder infection. If you have been diagnosed or have these symptoms, you are not alone. For Vermont-based support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail.com or call 899-4151 for more info.

KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS

The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@vcsn.net.

CLASSIFIEDS »

KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

A support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Led by a trained representative & facilitator. Meets on the 2nd Tue. of every mo., 6:30-7:45 p.m., at Milton Public Library. Free. For more info, call 802-893-4644 or email library@ miltonvt.gov. Facebook.com/ events/561452568022928.

LGBTQ SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE

The SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program at Pride Center of Vermont offers peer-led support groups for survivors of relationship, dating, emotional &/or hate-violence. These groups give survivors a safe & supportive environment to tell their stories, share info, & offer & receive support. Support groups also provide survivors an opportunity to gain info on how to better cope w/ feelings & experiences that surface because of the trauma they have experienced. Please call SafeSpace at 863-0003 if you are interested in joining.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS

Gifford Medical Center is announcing the restart of its grief support group, Living Through Loss. The program is sponsored by the Gifford Volunteer Chaplaincy Program & will meet weekly on Fri., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in Gifford’s Chun Chapel beginning on Aug. 6. Meetings will be facilitated by the Rev. Timothy Eberhardt, spiritual care coordinator, & Emily Pizzale MSW, LICSW, a Gifford social worker. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the last year or so is warmly invited to attend & should enter through the hospital’s main entrance wearing a mask on the way to the chapel. Meetings will be based on the belief that, while each of us is on a unique journey in life, we all need a safe place to pause, to tell our stories &, especially as we grieve, to receive the support & strength we need to continue along the way.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS

Do you have a problem w/ marijuana? MA is a free 12-step program where addicts help other addicts get & stay clean. Ongoing Wed., 7 p.m., at Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski, Suite 301, Burlington. 861-3150.

MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP

Area Myeloma Survivors, Families & Caregivers have come together to form a Multiple Myeloma Support Group. We provide emotional support, resources about treatment options, coping strategies & a support network by participating in the group experience w/ people who have been through similar situations. 3rd Tue. of every mo., 5-6 p.m., at the New Hope Lodge on East Ave. in Burlington. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@aol.com.

NAMI CONNECTION PEER SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Weekly virtual meetings. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, program@ namivt.org or 800-639-6480. Connection groups are peer recovery support group programs for adults living w/ mental health challenges.

NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Weekly virtual meetings. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, info@

namivt.org or 800-639-6480. Family Support Group meetings are for family & friends of individuals living w/ mental illness.

NARCONON SUNCOAST DRUG & ALCOHOL REHABILITATION & EDUCATION

Narconon reminds families that overdoses due to an elephant tranquilizer known as Carfentanil have been on the rise in nearly every community nationwide. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid painkiller 100 times more powerful than fentanyl & 1,000 times stronger than heroin. A tiny grain of it is enough to be fatal. To learn more about carfentanil abuse & how to help your loved one, visit narconon-suncoast.org/drug-abuse/ parents-get-help.html. Addiction screenings: Narconon can help you take steps to overcome addiction in your family. Call today for a no-cost screening or referral: 1-877-841-5509.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Info, 862-4516 or cvana.org. Held in Burlington, Barre & St. Johnsbury.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, in Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H. 338-8106.

NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS! EVERY PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY!

The Children’s Room invites you to join our weekly drop-in support group. Come unwind & discuss your experi ences & questions around infant care & development, self-care & postpartum healing, & community resources for families w/ babies. Tea & snacks provided. Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring your babies! (Newborn through crawling stage.) Located in Thatcher Brook Primary School, 47 Stowe St., childrensroomonline.org. Contact childrensroom@wwsu.org or 244-5605.

NORTHWEST VERMONT CANCER PRAYER & SUPPORT NETWORK

A meeting of cancer patients, survivors & family members intended to comfort & support those who are currently suffering from the disease. 2nd Thu. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 11 Church St., St. Albans. Info: stpaulum@myfairpoint. net. 2nd Wed. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., Winooski United Methodist Church, 24 W. Allen St., Winooski. Info: hovermann4@comcast.net.

OPEN EARS, OPEN MINDS

A mutual support circle that focuses on connection & self-exploration. Fri. at 1 p.m., Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Abby Levinsohn, 777-8602.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)

A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulim ics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont. org/meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more; or call 802-863-2655 anytime!

PONDERING GENDER & SEXUALITY

Pondering Gender & Sexuality is a twice-monthly facilitated mutual support group for folks of any identity (whether fully formed or a work in progress) who want to engage in mean ingful conversations about gender, sexuality & sexual orientation, &/or the coming-out process. Discussions can range from the personal to the philosophical & beyond as we work together to create a compassionate, safe & courageous space to explore our experiences. The group will be held on the 2nd Sun. & 4th Tue. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m., either virtually or at Pride Center of Vermont. Email pgs@ pridecentervt.org for more info or w/ questions!

POTATO INTOLERANCE SUPPORT GROUP

Anyone coping w/ potato intolerance & interested in joining a support group, contact Jerry Fox, 48 Saybrook Rd., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

QUEEN CITY MEMORY CAFÉ

The Queen City Memory Café offers a social time & place for people w/ memory impairment & their friends & family to laugh, learn, & share concerns & celebrate feeling understood & connected. Enjoy coffee, tea & baked goods w/ entertainment & conversa tion. QCMC meets on the 3rd Sat. of every mo., 10 a.m.-noon, at the Thayer Building, 1197 North Ave., Burlington. 316-3839.

QUEER CARE GROUP

This support group is for adult family members & caregivers of queer &/or questioning youth. It is held on the 2nd Mon. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., at Outright Vermont, 241 North Winooski Ave. This group is for adults only. For more info, email info@outrightvt.org.

READY TO BE TOBACCO-FREE GROUPS

Join a free 4-5-week group workshop facilitated by our coaches, who are certified in tobacco treatment. We meet in a friendly, relaxed & virtual atmosphere. You may qualify for a free limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Info: Call 802-847-7333 or email quittobaccoclass@uvmhealth. org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops!

RECOVERING FROM RELIGION

Meets on the 2nd Tue. of every mo., 6-8 p.m., at Brownell Public Library, 6 Lincoln St., Essex Junction, unless there’s inclement weather or the date falls on a holiday. Attendees can remain anonymous if they so choose & are not required to tell their story if they do not wish to, but everyone will be welcome to do so. The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion support group is to provide ongoing & personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. As such, the support meetings are safe & anonymous places to express these doubts, fears & experiences without biased feedback or proselytizing. We are here to help each other through this journey. Free.

SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION NEW ENGLAND Support group meeting held on the 4th Tue. of every mo., 6:30-8:30 p.m.,

Williston Police Station. Info, Blythe Leonard, 878-0732.

SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Shawn, 660-2645. Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.

SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, MONTPELIER

Do you have a problem w/ compulsive sexual behavior? A 12-step program has helped us. SAA Montpelier meets twice weekly at 6 p.m: Mon. virtual meeting, details at saatalk.info; Thu. face-to-face at Bethany Church, Montpelier, details at saa-recovery.org. Contact saa.vtrecovery@gmail.com or call 802-322-3701.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT

HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@sover.net.

SOBER REFLECTIONS: WOMEN’S RECOVERY GROUP

All women+ are invited to this open, supportive recovery group, based in the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (but appropriate for all addictive behaviors, i.e. alcohol, drugs, relationships, etc.) presented at Mercy Connections, 255 S. Champlain St., Burlington. The format of the meetings will include readings, meditation, journaling & sharing. No registration/ drop-in. Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m. Info: kmercer@mercyconnections.org, 802-846-7063, mercyconnections.org/ schedule.

STUTTERING SUPPORT GROUPS

If you’re a person who stutters, you are not alone! Adults, teens & school-age kids who stutter, & their families are welcome to join 1 of our 3 free National Stuttering Association (NSA) stuttering support groups at UVM (join by Zoom or in person). Adults: 5:30-6:30 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tue. monthly; teens (ages 13-17): 5:30-6:30 p.m., 2nd Thu. monthly; school-age children (ages 8-12) & parents (meeting separately): 4:15-5:15 p.m., 2nd Thu. monthly. Pomeroy Hall (489 Main St., UVM campus). Info: nsachapters.org/ burlington, burlingtonstutters@gmail. com, 656-0250. Go, Team Stuttering!

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP

For those who have lost a friend or loved one through suicide. Maple Leaf Clinic, 167 N. Main St., Wallingford, 446-3577. 6:30-8 p.m., on the 3rd Tue. of every mo.

SUICIDE HOTLINES IN VT Brattleboro, 257-7989; Montpelier (Washington County Mental Health Emergency Services), 229-0591; Randolph (Clara Martin Center Emergency Service), 800-639-6360.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR WOMEN who have experienced intimate partner abuse, facilitated by Circle (Washington Co. only). Please call 877-543-9498 for more info.

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE

If you have lost someone to suicide & wish to have a safe place to talk, share & spend a little time w/ others who have had a similar experience, join us on the 3rd Thu. of every mo., 7-9 p.m, at the Faith Lighthouse Church, Route 105, Newport (105 Alderbrook). Please call before attending. Info: Mary Butler, 744-6284.

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE: S. BURLINGTON

This group is for people experiencing the impact of the loss of a loved one to suicide. 1st Wed. of each mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at the Comfort Inn & Suites, 3 Dorset St., Burlington. Info: Heather Schleupner, 301-514-2445, raysoflifeyoga@gmail.com.

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP

The Compassionate Friends inter national support group for parents, siblings & families grieving the loss of a child meets every 3rd Tue. of the mo., 7-9 p.m., at Kismet Place, 363 Blair Park Rd., Williston. Call/email Jay at 802373-1263, compassionatefriendsvt@ gmail.com.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) chapter meeting. Hedding United Methodist Church, Washington St., Barre. Wed., 5:15-6:15 p.m. For info, call David at 371-8929.

TRANS & GENDER-NONCONFORMING SUPPORT GROUP

As trans & GNC people in the world, we experience many things that are unique to our identities. For that reason, the Transgender Program hosts a support group for our community on the 1st & 3rd Wed. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., either virtually or at Pride Center of Vermont. The Trans & GNC Support group is for Vermonters at all stages of their gender journey to come together to socialize, discuss issues that are coming up in their lives & build community. We welcome anyone whose identity falls under the trans, GNC, intersex & nonbinary umbrellas, & folks questioning their gender identity. Email safespace@pridecentervt.org w/ any questions, comments or accessibil ity concerns.

TRANSGENDER EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT

We are people w/ adult loved ones who are transgender or gendernonconforming. We meet to support each other & to learn more about issues & concerns. Our sessions are supportive, informal & confidential. Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m., the 2nd Thu. of each mo., via Zoom. Not sure if you’re ready for a meeting? We also offer 1-on-1 support. For more info, email rex@pridecentervt.org or call 802-318-4746.

VEGGIE SUPPORT GROUP

Want to feel supported on your vegetarian/vegan journey? Want more info on healthy veggie diets? Want to share & socialize at veggie potlucks & more in the greater Burlington area? This is your opportunity to join w/ other like-minded folks. veggy4life@gmail. com, 658-4991.

WOMEN’S CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

FAHC. Led by Deb Clark, RN. Every 1st & 3rd Tue., 5-6:30 p.m. Call Kathy McBeth, 847-5715.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY

The Department of History at Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for the position of Assistant Professor of History (1865 - Present) to start in August 2023. This is a tenure-track position. The teaching responsibilities include a general survey of U.S. History from 1865 to today, specialized courses and seminars in the candidate’s areas of specialization and interest, and opportunities to advise theses and independent research. Candidates in all subfields of U.S. history are encouraged to apply, and preference will be given to candidates whose work focuses on race, gender, medicine, and/or public history. The teaching load is six courses per academic year. A commitment to undergraduate teaching and ongoing scholarship is expected. Candidates should be ready to contribute to our vibrant residential campus community. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCAPOH.

Prolytix provides analytical and bioanalytical services and products to advance large molecule drug discovery and development. We enjoy solving tough protein chemistry problems to help our clients advance lifesaving therapies.

If you enjoy working in an extensively scientific and technical environment and want to play a key role in the development of novel biotherapies, we'd love to hear from you. We are currently recruiting for the following roles:

DISPATCH SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR - Full Time

The Public Safety/Fire & Rescue Departments at Saint Michael’s College are inviting applications for a Full-Time Dispatch Switchboard Operator to dispatch radio calls and operate the College switchboard. The successful candidate will be responsible for answering all incoming calls and directing calls to the appropriate party quickly, accurately, and professionally.

This role receives all emergency calls for SMC campus and the surrounding community. Dispatch, switchboard, emergency services experience desirable, but we will provide training for a motivated and dependable person with demonstrated aptitude. This position will work 40 hours a week in 8 hour shifts, with a focus on evening shifts, but with the flexibility to work regular hours, as well as weekend and holiday times.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCFTDSO.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

ASSISTANT MANAGER/BUYER

Join the staff of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, working collaboratively with a team to add new rental and homeownership opportunities statewide, addressing the critical need to increase the supply of housing affordable to Vermonters!

Digital Content & Communications Manager

MARKETING DIRECTOR/SALES

VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more at: www.vhcb.org/about-us/jobs.

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PLANNER

$52,900 - $55,700 w/excellent benefits package

Detail-oriented problem solver w/ excellent written & verbal communication to join an energized and engaging team. Reviews development projects, implements effective and fair review of land development applications, consults with property owners and contractors, advises on requirements, issues permits, conducts site inspections.

Minimum 2 years of professional exp. in a planning & zoning office, bachelor’s degree, or equivalent related exp. and/or education. Exp. in zoning administration a plus. Good technical skills, MS Office Suite. Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Passionate about creating content for an inspired mission? Seeking writer/ editor with skills in social media, video, managing a team. Must love working with teenagers + have a technical orientation. Remote, flexible. 4 weeks PTO, health care, $2K computer hardware. Shelburne. hackclub.com

Apply: bit.ly/lead-storyteller

Maintenance Operator

CSWD

If you’re looking for a positive workspace with a small, collaborative team that is professional, witty and fond of a good cup of coffee, we want to hear from you! View full description and apply online: colchestervt.gov/321/Human-Resources Open until filled. E.O.E.

Medical Assistant

Seeking full time experienced medical assistant to join our busy OB/GYN practice clinical team. Experience in women’s health is preferred but not required. Looking for someone that can work accurately and efficiently in a fast paced environment.

cswd.net/

Submit application or resume to Amy Jewell at ajewell@cswd.net by 11/16/2022.

Drop-Off Center Operator - Saturday position

CSWD is seeking a

Treasurer/Business Manager

The position requires competency in taking vitals, phlebotomy, immunization administration, assisting with medical procedures and medical intake. Candidate should also be comfortable with EMR systems, medical terminology, and general computer skills.

work

Drop-Off Centers on Saturdays, 7:45am3:45pm. Must enjoy interacting with the

have the ability

operate a

(training

Moderate to strenuous

and be able to keep

is required as is the ability to work outdoors

Customer service experience a plus. Self-starters and those with a passion for reducing waste, recycling, and composting, are strongly encouraged to apply. $17.89 per hour. Full job description & download

cswd.net/about-cswd/job-openings

to Amy Jewell: ajewell@cswd.net

Open

Do you enjoy working both independently and collaboratively with a team? Do you have experience in accounting practices, human resources and town government? Do you enjoy tracking trends, collecting information, and finding creative solutions? Can you communicate comfortably with a wide range of volunteers, staff and constituents? Are you able to communicate sometimes complex financial information to community members? Would you like to help support the Calais select board with town business?

Perhaps this partially home-based job is for you! We are looking for someone with strong organizational, administrative, communication and technical skills and interests.

This is a well-paid full-time position with excellent benefits. For a complete job description, go to calaisvermont.gov; to apply contact Denise Wheeler at calaissbdenise@gmail.com

Looking for an individual with good interpersonal and communication skills, who understands the importance of providing quality customer service and has a willingness to be flexible with duties in order to meet the needs of the patients and the clinic. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to jobs@maitriobgyn.com

VERMONT PUBLIC IS HIRING!

We are Vermont’s unified public media organization (formerly VPR and Vermont PBS), serving the community with trusted journalism, quality entertainment, and diverse educational programming.

Current openings include:

Programming Producer Engagement Producer for But Why

Afternoon News Producer

Director of Digital Strategy

We believe a strong organization includes employees from a range of backgrounds with different skills, experience, and passions. To apply, visit vermontpublic.org/ careers. Must be able to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Vermont Public is a proud equal opportunity employer.

Overnight Respite & Community Work

Hiring two staff for an ongoing weekly schedule for an autistic young adult in his home. The position is one overnight/two days (33 hours) professional job at $33/hour. You will be working in the home and out in the community.

The characteristics we are looking for, compassionate, friendly, punctual, athletic, and responsible human beings. A great opportunity!

Former shared providers in excellent standing welcome to apply. A great way to be a shared provider outside of your home for 2 days a week!

College degree preferred. *Vermont residents only need apply! Singers are appreciated!

Send cover letter, resume and 3 references to nbgteamvt@gmail.com

Part-time HR Generalist

Do you have a passion and drive to apply your talents to make a difference? Green Mountain Habitat is seeking a part time HR Generalist to guide the organization through an exciting period of growth Come join our team as we help local families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership

For a full position description: vermonthabitat.org/employment.

2v-GreenMtnHabitatforHumanity110222 1 10/28/22 3:04 PM

Development Coordinator

Green Mountain Habitat is seeking a Development Coordinator to oversee the administrative aspects of our development, fundraising and communication activities This is a full time position based in Williston Come join our team as we help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership

For a full position description: vermonthabitat.org/employment.

2v-GreenMtnHabitatHumanityDC110222 1 10/31/22 11:22 AM

PSYCHOTHERAPIST OPENING

The Vermont Center for Anxiety Care, a private psychotherapy practice on Burlington’s waterfront, has an opening for a psychotherapist. Therapy experience with any age group including children. Can be licensed or post-master’s degree intern. Collaborative group with holistic approach and multiple specialties. Clinical supervision towards licensure provided as needed. Visit web site: vtcenterforanxietycare.com

Send resume and cover letter describing professional interests and goals to Paul Foxman, Ph.D., 86 Lake Street, Burlington, VT 05401 or email: paulfoxman@aol.com

Industrial Arts/Visual Arts INSTRUCTOR

This role will primarily teach and lead programs for youth and adult audiences in the industrial and visual arts areas.

This is a part-time, benefits-eligible, 30-hour position at Artistree. The Industrial Arts/Visual Arts Instructor may be asked to work additional hours as their schedule permits.

We are looking for a candidate who has teaching experience or equivalent experience in the industrial and visual arts (such as wood working, welding, 3-D sculpture and other artistic mediums and techniques). The ideal candidate will be good with their hands and a problem-solver. We are seeking someone who is sociable and easy for students of all ages to work with and talk to.

For full description please visit: artistreevt.org/employment

To apply: Please submit your resume and a letter of interest to Marie at manager@artistreevt.org

FEEDING CHITTENDEN

Multiple Opportunities Available

Do you want to work for an Agency that positively impacts the lives of over 20,000 individuals?

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) addresses fundamental issues of economic, social, and racial justice and works with people to achieve economic independence by “bridging gaps and building futures” We are a part of the communities in which we work and live and together we create belonging and connection. Feeding Chittenden, a Program of CVOEO, brings critical nutrition, comfort and wellbeing into the lives of over 11,000 neighbors. They strive to make people feel heard and supported as they expand their critical programming to reach more vulnerable Vermonters. Are you highly effective in working objectively with a diverse group of people, groups and organizations? Feeding Chittenden is looking for team members who have a passion for addressing food insecurity for our neighbors in need. We have the following opportunities:

• Volunteer and Receiving Coordinator

• Food Rescue Coordinator

• Food Truck and Production Coordinator

When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership.

Please visit cvoeo.org/careers and include a cover letter and resume with your application. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until suitable applicants are found.

CVOEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Office Manager

The Office Manager oversees the day-to-day administrative functions of the Center for Academic Success and Scholars Programs. Creates a welcoming and inclusive office environment. Supports Scholars Programs services and events that decrease barriers and increase college access and success for students from historically under-served communities Supports department-level planning, communications, human resources, and business processes. Provides regular reports on student participation and progress, including federal reporting for the TRIO/Upward Bound grant. Implements communications campaigns and monitors web and social media. Assists with the production of events, outreach, and promotional materials. Maintains staff calendars, catering, and facility reservations. Helps create and carry out the Center for Academic Success’ mission, which includes a strong commitment to equity and inclusion. Supervised by the Director of the Center for Academic Success.

Applicants must apply for positions electronically. Paper resumes are not accepted. Open positions are updated daily. Please call 802-656-3150 or email employment@uvm.edu for technical support with the online application.

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Want to Join an Award-Winning Best Places to Work?

Apply Today!

Rhino Foods is an open hire employer, meaning that we don’t conduct lengthy drug screens, background checks* and recognize your future, not dwell on your past!

We have immediate needs for:

3rd Shift Production is Hiring--Shift Premium Pay

Make delicious dough, work with cool people! This shift takes place from 10:40PM-7AM and you’ll learn the various steps to make delicious products, including mixing, depositing, baking, assembling, and packaging. Join us today and start your career at one of the fastest growing companies in Vermont.

Sanitation Team

This important team helps Rhino to shine! This is a 2nd shift position; shift hours are 2:30PM-10:30PM. In this role, you’ll be trained on following established sanitation standards and procedures including use of chemicals, hot water, heavy equipment and equipment assembly.

Rhino offers weekly pay, bonuses, and benefits to support you and your family. Please see more on these openings on our career page at rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers

*Rhino Foods does run sex offender checks on all employees

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT ROAD CREW

The Town of Strafford is searching for an exceptional permanent employee to fill a full-time Level 1 or Level 2 road crew member to join our team. Candidates must be experienced with highway equipment or comparable equipment and hold a valid CDL.

Competitive salary, signing bonus negotiable upon hire, medical, and dental benefits. An application and job description are available upon request at the Town Office or e-mail townclerk@straffordvt.org

For questions, please contact Jeff Solsaa at 802-765-4164 or email jsolsaa@straffordvt.org

Please submit an application to: Strafford Town Office P. O. Box 27, Strafford, VT, 05072.

General Assembly

House Journal Clerk

Fiscal Editor & Bill Coordinator Seasonal Roles

The Legislative support offices are currently hiring. The nonpartisan offices are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work. You will be part of a highly professional and collegial team that is proud of, and enthusiastic about, the mission of the state legislature.

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at legislature.vermont.gov.

Join the WISE Team!

Since 1971, WISE has supported survivors of gender-based violence in the Upper Valley. We encourage and cultivate a dynamic environment that requires us to be an adaptive, flexible, and innovative team. We are growing and expanding our programming.

Civil Attorney

Provide civil legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking, including full legal representation and case consultation services related to the aftermath of violence. Work closely with WISE advocacy team to support and enhance legal advocacy.

Legal Services Coordinator

Coordinate the WISE Legal Services Program, collaborate with the WISE attorney and the NHLA LAV Project attorney, and advocate to pursue legal and court processes related to the aftermath of violence.

Youth Violence Prevention Educator

Work with students, educators, and parents throughout the Upper Valley providing prevention education, student leadership to end violence, and youth advocacy for survivors.

Community Educator

Engage adults, provide learning experiences, and create connections to end gender-based violence in our communities. Work closely with businesses, faith-based organizations, and community partners to develop these opportunities.

Program Advocate

Provide advocacy for people who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence, trafficking and stalking, and build relationships with community organizations and institutions.

To learn more and apply: wiseuv.org/join-us

Maintenance Mechanic

This position is a Maintenance Mechanic, WG- 4749-9 working in Swanton, Vermont for the R5-Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge.

This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R5-23-11703513AF-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

This job focuses on a variety of work to support the Missisquoi NWR including operating boats, tractors, UTV's and other equipment, maintaining and repairing vehicles, facilities, posting boundaries, maintaining HVAC system, repairing and building trails/board walks, interpretive signs. This job requires a CDL. Job duties vary throughout the year based upon field conditions and priorities. Apply online: usajobs.gov/job/685431000

Association Manager

The Vermont Society of Land Surveyors is seeking a new Administrator to manage the ongoing activities of the society, including membership services, planning three educational conferences per year, and creating all communication with members. The position is part-time and remote, with occasional attendance at committee meetings and conferences. Responsibilities include the graphic design of society magazine and communications materials, website management, event planning, administrative work, and bookkeeping. Experience with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Quickbooks, and Microsoft office products desired.

For a full job description, visit vsls.org/employment

PART- TIME SUPPORT & SERVICES AT HOME (SASH) COORDINATOR

Join an amazing team and apply your social services, organizational and management skills to helping your fellow Vermonters. Winooski Housing Authority has an immediate opening for a part-time Support and Services at Home (SASH) Coordinator position based in Winooski.

SEASONAL HOLIDAY POSITIONS

Are you looking to make some extra money around the holidays? Dakin Farm is currently seeking applicants to join our holiday team for a fast-paced exciting work environment. No experience is required. These seasonal positions are available from the middle of November through early January.

We have both full and part time positions available in our Mail Order Packing Department, and Specialty Food Production. We o er competitive wages, generous employee discounts, and hours that meet your schedule.

For an application or more information please email: tdanyow@dakinfarm.com You can also give us a call or stop by our retail store : 5797 Route 7, Ferrisburgh 1-800-99DAKIN

This position offers a lot of variety, but the primary role is to build trusting relationships with participants to support their needs around health and wellness as they pertain to remaining safely at home. This includes planning, developing, organizing and implementation of activities for SASH participants. Three focus areas are transitional care, self-management education, and coordinated care.

Youth First Mentoring

Program Director

Promote mentoring, promote futures. Youth First Mentoring (formerly known as Girls/Boyz First Mentoring) seeks the right person to help match youth in Central Vermont with adult mentors to enrich their lives. Our program director will recruit, support, train and inspire mentoring pairs. You will bring strong organizational and communication skills to take our program to the next level. 0.75FTE position with opportunity for full-time. Based in Montpelier, flexible schedule and benefits.

Read the full job description here: girlsboyzfirst.org/seeking-new-program-director Email resume and letter of interest to youthfirstmentoring@gmail.com.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience coordinating services specifically for older adults and people with disabilities is preferred.

• Must have knowledge of and an appreciation for the heritage, values, and wisdom of each participant and a commitment to the philosophy of a person’s choice to age at home.

• Knowledge of area resources and programs available to this population (e.g., meals on wheels, transportation, health services and recreational activities) is helpful.

• Excellent verbal and written skills.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or have an equivalent combination of background and experience

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter explaining your interest in this position and your experience working with the elderly, to: Carol Altobelli, Office Coordinator, caltobelli@winooskihousing.org, or 83 Barlow St., Winooski, VT 05404

Winooski Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer

OFFICE SUPPORT PROGRAM GENERALIST

Responsible for supporting the UVM Center on Rural Addiction administrative needs. Provide scheduling and logistical support for a variety of settings including groups, individual clinics, hospitals, and homes, and help with follow up. Support other newly requested projects from the funding agency focused on substance use disorder treatment in rural Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and northern New York. Assist with other related topics by supporting faculty and staff as they disseminate content, trainings, education, support, and other evidence-based resources.

Apply online: uvmjobs.com/postings/55986

BEST PRACTICES OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Coordinate, manage, and provide in-person and remote support to providers and staff in HRSA-designated rural counties in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and northern New York in the implementation and use of scientifically-supported assessments and interventions for opioid and other substance use disorders for the Best Practices Core of the UVM Center on Rural Addiction.

UVM CORA is a HRSA-funded Center in the UVM Larner College of Medicine aimed at identifying, translating, disseminating, and implementing science-based practices to address the rural OUD epidemic, as well as future drug epidemics as they emerge. Its Best Practices Core is aimed at providing technical assistance in evidence-based treatment and prevention to rural providers and staff as well as other interested parties across multiple states.

Requires occasional travel to rural implementation sites in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, or northern New York.

Apply online: uvmjobs.com/postings/57466

NORTHEASTERN VERMONT REGIONAL HOSPITAL is seeking a Senior Accountant.

This is a great opportunity to work in a variety of Healthcare Finance topics. Tasks include monthend closing, fixed asset reporting, assisting with budget preparations, grant reporting and monthly variance analysis.

NVRH offers excellent benefits, including student loan repayment, generous paid time off, health/dental/vision,401k with company match, and more!

APPLY TODAY AT NVRH.ORG/CAREERS

This part time position works closely with the Finance & Operations Director to ensure accuracy, integrity and timeliness of all financial transactions for Mercy Connections. EOE. Position is open until filled. To apply, send cover letter & resume to: ashaw@mercyconnections.org mercyconnections.org/employment

ADULT EDUCATION READING INSTRUCTOR

40 hours/week with benefits, Burlington, VT

Teaches basic and high school level reading comprehension skills including: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Word Recognition, Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas. These skills are taught to a diverse group of adults with a wide range of backgrounds, skills, and learning styles. Instruction includes individual and group classes of students, both inperson and online. Instructors are committed to providing high quality services to our students and are expected to create engaging and effective lessons, projects, and courses for our students. Instructors also play a critical role in creating a welcoming, supportive environment for new and current students.

This position requires working in the Burlington Learning Center at least two days a week with the flexibility to work remotely the other day(s). Full description at: https://bit.ly/VTAdultLearnAERI

TO APPLY: Send a cover letter and resume electronically to: rcampbell@vtadultlearning.org. Equal Opportunity Employer

Health Care Advocate Consumer Research and Policy Analyst

Vermont Legal Aid seeks candidates for a full-time health policy analyst within the Office of the Health Care Advocate (HCA) based in either Burlington or Montpelier (post COVID). The Policy Analyst advocates for a transparent, affordable, high quality health care system through policy analysis, legislative and administrative advocacy, & participation in Vermont’s health care regulatory process.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace. Please see our commitment to diversity and inclusion: vtlegalaid.org/commitment-diversity-inclusion.

Responsibilities include development and implementation of consumer access to care research projects, participation in health care regulatory proceedings by reviewing budgets, preparing questions and working with stakeholder groups; researching, writing, and publishing formal policy papers on a variety of health care-related subjects; and supporting HCA legislative efforts, including some work at the State House (post COVID).

The successful candidate must have an extensive knowledge of the health care system, including financing, payment and delivery models, and health policy trends. Graduate degree in public administration, finance, public health, health care delivery, law, or related field; or a minimum of four years’ equivalent work experience required.

• 19-year-old man, seeking home provider in the Barre area. He works part-time four days a week. He enjoys outdoor activities, and gaming. Call  Caitlyn – 802-661-8592.

• 20-year-old man seeking a home without young children. Enjoys playing video games, swimming, and collecting trains. Needs a home that can be supportive and set good boundaries. Call Steve – 522-2360.

• 22-year-old man seeking home without young children. He uses augmented communication and enjoys being outside and would enjoy a farm setting with animals. The bedroom should be on the same floor as providers. Call Tracy – 802-636-7379.

• 23-year-old man seeking experienced home without children. He is interested in cooking and likes music and going for drives. He prefers the Barre area. Call Kati -802-798-2522

• 28-year-old man seeking alcohol free home. He enjoys hiking, bike riding, and outdoor activities. Understanding on addiction and mental health a plus. Call Caitlyn – 802-661-8592

• 28-year-old man seeks home without young children. He loves computers, animation, planes, trains, and cars. Call Katie – 802-904-3414.

• 55-year-old man seeking patient and active home provider, without young children or cats. He works for WCMHS as a peer mentor, he enjoys walks, hiking, swimming and snowshoeing. He uses Facilitated Communication (FC) and would like an individual who is open to training and learning the processes and best practices of FC so that he is able to communicate in his home setting. Call Leigh – 802-505-1889

• 54-year-old man seeks FEMALE ONLY home in the Barre area. He is very active, loves fishing, biking, shopping, doing odd jobs, and watching TV. He prefers home without children or dogs. Call Brittany – 802-798-9115

• 64-year-old woman seek quiet home, with first floor bed and bath, without children. She enjoys old country music, soap operas, car rides and visiting her family. Call Jayne – 479-1477

* MUST RESIDE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY OR THE TOWNS OF ORANGE, WILLIAMSTOWN, OR WASHINGTON.

INFORMATION ON SHARED LIVING OPPORTUNITIES: wcmhs.org/careers

OR

CONTACT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: 802-479-2502 EXT. 3416

Base salary is $57,500 with salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Four weeks’ paid vacation, retirement, and excellent health benefits.

Full job description: vtlegalaid.org/hca-consumer-researchpolicy-analyst. Application deadline is November 9, 2022. Your application should include a cover letter, resume, 3 references, and a writing sample, combined into one pdf, sent by e-mail to hiring@ vtlegalaid.org with “HCA Position - November 2022” in the subject line. Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Join Our Auction Team

Legal Assistant

Full Time

Busy Burlington Law Firm seeks a full-time Legal Assistant to provide support in both transactional and litigation practice areas. Experience in a law firm is preferred, but not required. The ideal candidate will be professional and serviceoriented, with strong computer and organizational skills.

MSK focuses its practice on real estate, commercial transactions, and related litigation. We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience, benefits package, and a family friendly work environment.

Please forward your resume to Deborah Sabourin, Business Manager at dsabourin@mskvt.com Visit our website at mskvt.com to learn more about MSK Attorneys.

OPEN POSITIONS:

Auction Positions

PROGRAM ASSISTANT

CarShare Vermont is seeking a versatile team member to bolster all aspects of our thriving nonprofit organization. This role focuses on member care, community outreach, and supporting our operations. This position is a unique opportunity to participate in all facets of our work, joining a team of committed, smart, supportive, and fun coworkers. To learn more about the position and benefits, visit carsharevt.org/jobs.

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Thomas Hirchak Company is an at will employer. See details at: THCAuction.com Email Us: Eric@THCAuction.com

Head Start is a federally-funded, national child and family development program which provides comprehensive services for pregnant people, children from birth to age five, and their families. Services for children promote school readiness, and include early education, health, nutrition, mental health, and services for children with special needs. Services for parents promote family engagement, and include parent leadership and social service supports.

As a Family Education Specialist, you will support children and their families in intentional capacity-building caregiver-child interactions to promote the development of family protective factors, resiliency, and enhanced child development. Skilled Family Education Specialists work collaboratively with colleagues, families, and community agencies to center child and family growth, development, and well-being. If you want to make a difference in the lives of young children and their families, consider joining the Head Start community.

REQUIREMENTS: Associates degree in social work, human/family services, child/human development, early childhood education or a related field; experience working with children and families from diverse backgrounds; knowledge of adult learning principles; a commitment to social justice and working with families with limited financial resources; valid driver’s license, clean driving record and access to reliable transportation; physical ability to carry out required tasks, and a cando extra mile attitude.

40hours/week,approximately42weeks/year; 24hours/weekduringthesummer.Starting wage:$18.67-$23.04/hour,dependingon qualifications.Wagesincreaseuponsuccessful completionof60-workingdayprobationary period.Healthplanandexcellentbenefits.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three work references with your application CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute

excellence Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this

org/careers

Development Associate

Hunger Free Vermont wants to add a full-time member to our innovative and supportive Development Team. No previous fundraising or grant writing experience is required, but a love of writing to inspire a variety of audiences to support a social justice mission is key. This position is designed for advancement to a manager role within 18-24 months for someone looking for a career in nonprofit development.

Learn more about the position and the application process at hungerfreevt.org/employment

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC, a full-service law firm with offices in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Washington, DC, seeks an individual to join our growing government relations practice group in Vermont to assist in the implementation of the legislative and regulatory agenda of the firm’s clients at the state level. The individual will monitor and report on legislation, develop relationships with policy makers, interest groups and others involved in the policy process, develop and draft legislative priorities, draft legislative bulletins and updates, present testimony to legislative committees, and interact with state agencies on regulatory and legislative initiatives. The position may be part-time or full-time depending upon the candidate’s experience and interests.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication and writing skills. Knowledge of government and legislative process is beneficial, but not required. JD also not required.

Hybrid work schedule option

We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. We have been awarded Best Places to Work in Vermont for the last three consecutive years. Qualified candidates may submit a letter of interest and resume by e-mail to careers@primmer.com

STAFF ATTORNEY

Vermont Legal Aid is seeking a full-time staff attorney to work in its Mental Health Law Project (MHLP). The MHLP staff attorney is part of a small, dedicated team that represents Vermonters in a range of mental health commitment and medication cases, and other involuntary mental health or guardianship matters.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goals of social justice and individual rights. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination-and-harassment-free workplace. Please see our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: vtlegalaid.org/commitment-diversity-inclusion

Responsibilities include meeting with clients labeled mentally ill in inpatient or outpatient settings, factual investigation and analysis, legal research when appropriate, preparation of legal documents, pleadings, and motions, review of voluminous medical records, consultation and collaboration with other Project attorneys, work with expert medical witnesses, representation at trial, & some appellate work. Applicants must be admitted to practice law in Vermont or eligible for admission by motion.

The position is remote until VLA changes its remote work policy; however, the position will be based out of one of our offices, which are in Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, and Springfield. In-state travel in a personal vehicle required.

Starting salary is $57,500, with additional salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Four weeks’ paid vacation and retirement, as well as excellent health benefits. Attorney applicants must be licensed to practice law in Vermont or eligible for admission by waiver. To see full job description go to: vtlegalaid.org/mhlp-staff-attorney-november-2022

Application deadline is November 9, 2022. Your application should include a cover letter and resume, bar status, writing sample, and at least three professional references with contact information, sent as a single PDF. Send your application by e-mail to hiring@vtlegalaid.org with the subject line “Mental Health Staff Attorney – November 2022.” Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Town of Charlotte Minutes-Taker

The Town of Charlotte seeks a Minutes Taker for meetings held by the Planning Commission and Development Review Board, and extra meetings held by the Selectboard. The Planning Commission meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday evenings, the Development Review Board meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings, and the Selectboard usually meets on Mondays. Remote attendance at meetings (via Zoom) is acceptable.

The position is considered to be a contractor, and is not an employee of the Town. The position is paid hourly and does not include leave or health benefits.

Applications should include a description of relevant experience, a sample of minutes taken or other writing sample, and requested hourly pay-rate.

Please send inquiries & applications to dean@townofcharlotte.com The position is open until filled.

CCV IS HIRING!

We’re looking for dynamic, missiondriven people who want their work to make a positive difference in Vermont and for Vermonters. The Community College of Vermont is Vermont’s second largest college, serving nearly 10,000 students each year. CCV is deeply rooted in Vermont communities, providing students of all ages opportunities for academic and professional growth through flexible, innovative programs and exemplary support services.

We are looking to fill the following positions across the state. Come join our incredible staff!

• Administrative Assistant (Winooski)

• Reference and Teaching Resources Librarian

• Coordinator of Student Advising for Secondary Education Initiatives

• Program Director of the Corrections Post-Secondary Education Initiative

Benefits for full-time staff include 14 paid holidays, plus vacation, medical, and personal time, automatic retirement contribution, and tuition waiver at any Vermont State College for staff and their dependents (eligible dependents may apply waiver to UVM).

Visit ccv.edu/about/employment/staff-positions/ to learn more.

CCV values individual differences that can be engaged in the service of learning. Diverse experiences from people of varied backgrounds inform and enrich our community. CCV strongly encourages applications from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. CCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer, in compliance with ADA requirements, and will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant.

AT WWW.CCV.EDU OR AT THE CCV LOCATION NEAREST YOU

R E G I S T E R N O W

MARKETING & EVENTS SPECIALIST

FEEDING CHITTENDEN

Do you want to work for an Agency that positively impacts the lives of over 20,000 individuals?

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) addresses fundamental issues of economic, social, and racial justice and works with people to achieve economic independence by “bridging gaps and building futures.” We are a part of the communities in which we work and live and together we create belonging and connection. Feeding Chittenden, a Program of CVOEO, has brought critical nutrition, comfort and wellbeing into the lives of over 11,000 neighbors. They strive to make people feel heard and supported as they expand their critical programming to reach more vulnerable Vermonters. Are you highly effective in working objectively with a diverse group of people, groups and organizations? Feeding Chittenden has an opening for a Marketing and Events Specialist. In this role you will work closely with the Major Gifts and Communications Manager to generate press releases and news stories to support Feeding Chittenden’s marketing and communications plan. This position will collect and disseminate stories from community members experiencing food insecurity, coordinate fundraisers and special events, including food and fund drives, and enhance Feeding Chittenden’s social media and online presence.

JOB DESCRIPTION: If you have a Bachelor’s degree in business or human services plus 2-4 years’ related experience or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired; proven experience coordinating special events; strong computer skills; experience with data bases, spreadsheets, publishing applications, social media and Microsoft Office; effective verbal and written communication skills (bilingual abilities are a plus); a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and access to reliable transportation, we’d like to hear from you!

When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership. Please visit cvoeo.org/careers and include a cover letter and resume with your application. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until suitable applicants are found.

Production and Warehouse Assistant

The Center for an Agricultural Economy is looking for a dynamic and reliable individual to join our Just Cut and Farm Connex team! This is a temporary, hourly, cross-program position that would work in an industrial kitchen setting and a warehouse setting where safe food handling practices, working closely with a team, and attention to detail is required.

Position starts immediately, 3 days, 30+ hours per week, temporary, non exempt position. 6-10 hour days. DecemberFebruary with potential for permanent employment based on performance and operational needs. To apply, email us with your resume and contact information for two professional references, and include ‘Production and Warehouse Assistant’ in your email subject line.

Learn more at hardwickagriculture.org/ jobs, we can’t wait to hear from you.

DIRECTOR OF IT

Sheehey Furlong & Behm, an established, growing law firm located near the Burlington waterfront, is accepting applications for a Director of IT.

The Director of IT will:

• Manage, direct, and implement the firm’s IT operations and infrastructure,

• Provide efficient and effective technologies and technical support services to the end user,

• Provide technical support, tools and guidance to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the firm,

• Lead development and implementation processes for the organizations IT systems and department,

• Collaborate with firm leadership to establish the firm’s technical vision and lead all aspects of the firm’s technological development.

The ideal candidate will have experience in a law firm environment; however, it is not a requirement. Candidates should be familiar with Microsoft Office, document management systems, and email systems. Preference will be given to candidates familiar with O365, Worldox, Mimecast and other legal industry specific programs and tools such as Relativity, Juris, iPro, and Westlaw. Salary will be commensurate with experience and will include a comprehensive benefits package. Please forward your cover letter and resume to hiring@sheeheyvt.com

Why not have a job you love?

Positions include a sign on bonus, strong benefits package and the opportunity to work at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont”

Senior Manager: Are you a QDDP (Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional) with strong clinical and organizational skills? Join CCS and provide leadership to our service coordinators, advocate for funding for the people we serve, and be an integral part of our dynamic, award-winning team. $58,240 annual salary.

Service Coordinator: Continue your career in human services in a supportive environment by providing case management for individuals either for our Adult Family Care program or our Developmental Services program. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical, organizational & leadership skills and enjoy working in a team-oriented position. $47,000 annual salary.

Residential Program Manager: Coordinate staffed residential and community supports for an individual in their home. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team-oriented position, have strong clinical skills, and demonstrated leadership. $45,900 annual salary.

Direct Support Professional: Provide 1:1 supports to help individuals reach their goals in a variety of settings. This is a great position to start or continue your career in human services. Full and part time positions available starting at $19/hr.

Shared Living Provider: Open your home to someone with an intellectual disability or autism and open a whole world to them, and to you. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household. Salary varies dependent on individual care requirements.

Join our dedicated team and together we’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs: ccs-vt.org/current-openings.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER

BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

CHANGE MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONER – BURLINGTON

The Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs is seeking a part-time Change Management Practitioner. This position has a project management focus and will facilitate the design and implementation plan development of large system initiatives associated with the substance use disorder treatment and recovery services systems of care. Project and change management experience is desired. The role will include stakeholder engagement and meeting facilitation. For more information, contact Stephanie Beck at Stephanie.Beck@vermont.gov. Department: Health. Location: Burlington. Status: Part-Time, Temporary. Job Id #40745. Application Deadline: November 9, 2022.

HEALTH CARE TRAINING/CURRICULUM COORDINATOR – BURLINGTON

This role will act as the lead trainer for the Vermont Immunization Registry (IMR). In this capacity, the work will be primarily with various IMR users - providers & their associated staff, school nurses, department of health staff, etc. The primary job duties will include developing training materials for use in multiple settings/multiple user types, conducting training with providers through multiple modes of communication, onboarding new health professional, etc. For more information, contact Bridget Ahrens at bridget.ahrens@vermont.gov. Department: Health. Location: Burlington. Status: Full Time. Job Id #40261. Application Deadline: November 13, 2022.

The Department of Corrections is seeking a dynamic, results-oriented individual for the role of Financial Director II. This position manages the day-to-day financial operations of the Central Business Office and will coordinate these efforts across the department. The right person will craft our policies and procedures, evaluate and improve internal controls, orchestrate fiscal year-end close, budget reviews, audit responses, reporting, and function as a liaison to department financial staff. For more information, contact Kristin Calver at kristin.calver@vermont.gov. Department: Corrections. Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time. Job Id #40742. Application Deadline: November 14, 2022.

Learn more at: careers.vermont.gov

When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. A career with the State puts you on a rich and rewarding professional path. You’ll find jobs in dozens of fields – not to mention an outstanding total compensation package.

CUSTODIAN III – ST. ALBANS

We are seeking an experienced building Custodian. We are searching for an individual who can work independently as well as with others. Work includes custodial care of state offices, buildings, and grounds, working as a crew leader, and being responsible for custodial supplies and equipment requisitions. A background check is required. Benefits include Health Insurance, Dental plan, Flexible Spending, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, etc. For more information, contact Thomas Pendris at thomas.pendris@vermont.gov. Department: Buildings & General Services. Location: St. Albans. Status: Full Time. Job Id #43601. Application Deadline: November 8, 2022.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR I – WATERBURY

HireAbility Vermont (formerly VocRehab Vermont) is seeking a team-orientated individual with very strong customer service, interpersonal and administrative skills. This position will be part of a team that provides support to the approximately 20 Central Office staff as well as to the field. The Central Office is a busy office that provides support to twelve district offices, oversees programs, processes grants, and contracts, develops new programs, and other central office functions. For more information, contact Wendy Madigan at wendy.madigan@vermont.gov. Department: Disabilities Aging & Independent Living.

Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time, Limited Service. Job Id #42501. Application Deadline: November 7, 2022.

EXECUTIVE STAFF ASSISTANT – MONTPELIER

The HRC is hiring a full-time Executive Staff Assistant. This is a unique chance to join an agency that promotes civil rights and investigates violations of VT’s anti-discrimination laws. With an integral role in day-to-day operations, the ESA processes public inquiries, analyzes potential complaints, and provides admin support to the Exec. Director. Duties include managing public records requests, keeping minutes of monthly Commission meetings, and overseeing the HRC’s website. Please Note: Do Not Apply Online. Send resume and cover letter to human.rights@vermont.gov. Department: Human Rights Commission.

Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time, Exempt. Job Id #43824. Application Deadline: November 8, 2022.

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer

MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT

Growing naturopathic office seeks a motivated and dedicated assistant. Office tasks such as scheduling and ordering stock etc., light cleaning up. Excellent phone and sales skills.

Great for a parent – can do much remotely and the schedule is flexible. Community-minded individual with integrity and superior work ethic. Many perks and room for growth into employee owner. Part-time to start and grow into full-time. Send resumes to: drmariacronynnd@gmail.com thenaturopathicadvantage.com

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

Keens Crossing – Winooski, VT 05404

Full Time, 40 Hours, Pay Rate $24.72

Are you looking to learn new skills or to start a career? Are you looking to join a supportive team and a dynamic company? We are so sure you will love it at HallKeen Management that we are offering a $1,000 hiring bonus for the right candidate. All bonuses to be paid per company policy. Will entertain employees looking to relocate to Vermont.

Responsibilities of Maintenance Technician are quite diverse including but not limited to Apartment turnovers, grounds keeping, various janitorial duties, painting, appliance, electrical, heating, plumbing and safety equipment repair & replacement & provide assistance at other company properties when needed.

The qualified candidate must have reliable transportation and have the ability to assist in carrying appliances and climb ladders as needed.

Please e-mail resumes to dfinnigan@hallkeen.com

Experienced Residential Carpenter

Silver Maple Construction is hiring for the position of Experienced Residential Carpenter. Our company is dynamic, high energy, and team-oriented; our culture is one of customer service, collaboration, and agility; and our projects are unique opportunities to create beautifully crafted homes.

Qualified applicant will be:

• a collaborative team player with a willingness to wear many hats on any job • an experienced start-to-finish carpenter capable of bringing a building out of the ground from foundation to finish

• a production-oriented craftsperson capable of generating exceptional quality work at a blistering pace

• a problem-solver who approaches challenges as opportunities to collabo rate and learn

• a customer service ambassador to our clients, architects & the community

If you are interested in joining our team in any capacity, please reach out. We are eager to hear from you! silvermapleconstruction.bamboohr.com/careers

Engaging minds that change the world

Seeking a position with a quality employer? Consider The University of Vermont, a stimulating and diverse workplace. We offer a comprehensive benefit package including tuition remission for on-going, full-time positions.

Hazardous Materials Supervisor - Environmental Health & Safety - #S3959PO - The University of Vermont is seeking an experienced environmental professional to lead our hazardous materials team and external contractors in the management of facilities-related hazardous materials including asbestos, lead, and mold. This position ensures safety of work crews, building occupants, and campus community through planning, design, and monitoring of abatement and remediation projects. Successful candidates will have an Associate’s degree and a minimum of five years of experience that provides necessary skills, knowledge, abilities, and familiarity with (V)OSHA, EPA/VT DEC, and Department of Health regulations. Candidates will also have (or ability to obtain) the following licenses within 6 months of hire: 40-hour Asbestos Supervisor License, Asbestos Site Inspector, Asbestos Project Designer, Asbestos Management Planner, Asbestos Project Monitor, Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor, Lead Inspection, Repair, and Cleaning, and Lead Renovation, Repair, Painting, and Maintenance. Smokers will not be considered due to research that indicates a high medical risk when working with asbestos. UVM offers excellent benefits, competitive salary, and a flexible work environment.

Educational Technologist - Center for Teaching & Learning#S3979PO - UVM’s Center for Teaching & Learning is seeking an educational technologist to join a campus community dedicated to teaching excellence. We’re a friendly, creative, enthusiastic group of professionals, committed to fostering inclusive and equitable learning. This position supports faculty in learning and implementing educational technologies. This individual will also consult with faculty on course design choices and support instructors in migrating courses from Blackboard to Brightspace. The position is for two years with an expected end date of June 30, 2024.

Minimum requirements include a Master’s degree and two to four years of professional experience in related field such as instructional technology, instructional design, and faculty professional development. A suitable combination of education and experience may be substituted for minimum qualifications.

For further information on these positions and others currently available, or to apply online, please visit www.uvmjobs.com Applicants must apply for positions electronically. Paper resumes are not accepted. Open positions are updated daily. Please call 802-656-3150 or email employment@uvm.edu for technical support with the online application.

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

BURLINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY (BHA)

Located in Burlington, VT, is seeking candidates to continue BHA’s success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of extremely low-income families and individuals. Join us & make a difference in our community!

RAPID REHOUSING SPECIALIST provides assistance to community members who are without housing and have barriers to locating and securing housing in the community. This grant funded position works closely with our Rental Assistance department and Chittenden County Coordinated Entry and is a part of a skilled team that focuses on assessment, intervention, and service coordination of at-risk households.

SENIOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT manages the accounting operations of the Authority. The responsibilities for this position include preparing timely and accurate accounting records and financial reports; managing operating budgets; and maintaining a comprehensive and effective system of internal controls, all of which are designed to ensure the accuracy of BHA’s reported results, mitigate risk, and ensure that resulting financial statements comply with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements.

***To learn more about these career opportunities, please visit: burlingtonhousing.org

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!

BHA offers a competitive salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience. We offer a premium benefit package at a low cost to employees. Benefits include medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short and long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer and critical illness insurance and access to reduced cost continuing education. We also offer a generous time off policy including paid time off, sick, and 13 paid holidays. And sign on bonus of up to $2,000.

If interested in these career opportunities, please submit your resume and cover letter to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Beta Experience FOT Raffle

TUE., NOV. 1-30

SAINT ALBANS CITY HALL Eco-resiliency Gathering

WED., NOV. 2

ONLINE

Living with Loss: A Gathering for the Grieving

WED., NOV. 2

ONLINE

Michael Oakland with Amanda Ukasick

WED., NOV. 2

THE UNDERGROUND, RANDOLPH

Raise the Roof to End Homelessness

SAT., NOV. 5

ALFIE’S WILD RIDE, STOWE

Acupuncture and Yoga Nidra in the Salt Cave

SUN., NOV. 6

PURPLE SAGE, ESSEX

Sabah’s House Pop-Up and Take-Out

WED., NOV. 9

TINY COMMUNITY KITCHEN, BURLINGTON

Female Founders Speakers Series: Film & Media

WED., NOV. 9

HOTEL VERMONT, BURLINGTON

Michael Arnowitt, Piano

FRI., NOV. 11

CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON

Everything But the Turkey (All the Fixin’s for a Thanksgiving Feast)

SAT., NOV. 12

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Ethiopian and Eritrean Cuisine Takeout

SAT., NOV. 12

O.N.E. COMMUNITY CENTER, BURLINGTON

Aurora Chamber Singers: Mozart Requiem & Selected Nocturnes

SAT., NOV. 12

COLLEGE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURLINGTON

Suburban Samurai / Lürking

Community

Facing Change:

Maple

Vision Camp

Burlington

fun stuff

fun stuff

SCORPIO

(OCT. 23-NOV. 21)

“Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured,” said author Martha Beck. “Without it, we wouldn’t even know what it means to be brave.” I love that quote — and I especially love it as a guiding medi tation for you Scorpios right now. We usually think of fear as an unam biguously bad thing, a drain of our precious life force. But I suspect that for you, it will turn out to be useful in the coming days. You’re going to find a way to transmute fear into bold ness, bravery and even badassery.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In the coming weeks, I encourage you to work as hard as you have ever worked. Work smart, too. Work with flair and aplomb and relish. You now have a surprisingly fertile opportunity to reinvent how you do your work and how you feel about your work. To take maximum advantage of this potential breakthrough, you should inspire yourself to give more of your heart and soul to your work than you have previously imagined possible. (PS: By “work,” I mean your job and any crucial activity that is both chal lenging and rewarding.)

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Here’s my weird suggestion, Taurus. Just for now, only for a week or two, experiment with dreaming about what you want but can’t have. And just for now, only for a week or two, go in pursuit of what you want but can’t have. I predict that these exercises in quixotic futility will gener ate an unexpected benefit. They will motivate you to dream true and strong and deep about what you do want and can have. They will intensify and focus you to pursue what you do want and can have.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Your most successful times in life usually come when all your various selves are involved. During these interludes, none of them is neglected or shunted to the outskirts. In my astrologi cal opinion, you will be wise to ensure this scenario is in full play during the coming weeks. In fact, I recommend you throw a big Unity Party and invite all your various sub-personalities to come as they are. Have outrageous fun acting out the festivities. Set out a place mat and name tag on a table for each participant. Move around from seat to seat and speak from the heart on behalf of each one. Later, discuss a project you could all participate in creating.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): A Cancerian reader named Joost Joring explained to me how he cultivates the art of being the best Cancerian he can be. He said, “I shape my psyche into a fortress, and I make people feel privileged when they are allowed inside. If I must sometimes instruct my allies to stay outside for a while, to camp out by the draw bridge as I work out my problems, I make sure they know they can still love me — and that I still love them.” I appreciate Joost’s perspec tive. As a Cancerian myself, I can attest to its value. But I will also note that in the coming weeks, you will reap some nice benefits from having less of a fortress mentality. In my astrological opinion, it’s PARTY TIME!

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Leo poet Antonio Machado wrote, “I thought my fire was out, and I stirred the ashes. I burnt my fingers.” I’m telling you this so you won’t make the same mistake, Leo. Your energy may be a bit less radiant and fervent than usual right now,

but that’s only because you’re in a recharging phase. Your deep reserves of fertility and power are regenerating. That’s a good thing! Don’t make the error of thinking it’s a sign of reduced vitality. Don’t overreact with a flurry of worry.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Virgo author Siegfried Sassoon became renowned for the poetry he wrote about being a soldier in World War I. Having witnessed carnage firsthand, he became adept at focusing on what was truly important. “As long as I can go on living a rich inner life,” he wrote, “I have no cause for com plaint, and I welcome anything which helps me to simplify my life, which seems to be more and more a process of eliminating inessentials!” I suggest we make Sassoon your inspirational role model for the next three weeks. What inessentials can you eliminate? What could you do to enhance your appreciation for all the everyday miracles that life offers you?

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): You Libras have a talent that I consider a superpower: You can remove yourself from the heart of the chaos and deliver astute insights about how to tame the chaos. I like that about you. I have person ally benefited from it on numerous occasions. But for the next few weeks, I will ask you to try something different. I’ll encourage you to put an emphasis on practical action, however imperfect it might be, more than on in-depth analysis. This moment in the history of your universe requires a commitment to getting things done, even if they’re untidy and incom plete. Here’s your motto: “I improvise compro mises in the midst of the interesting mess.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): For decades, the Canadian city of Sudbury hosted a robust mining industry. Deposits of nickel sulphide ore spawned a booming business. But these riches also brought terrible pol lution. Sudbury’s native vegetation was devastated. The land was stained with foul air produced by the smelting process. An effort to regreen the area began in the 1970s. Today, the air is among the cleanest in the province of Ontario. In the spirit of this transformation, I invite you to embark on a personal recla mation project. Now is a favorable time to detoxify and purify any parts of your life that have been spoiled or sullied.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The literal meaning of the ancient Greek word aigílips is “devoid of goats.” It refers to a place on the Earth that is so high and steep that not even sure-footed goats can climb it. There aren’t many of those places. Similarly, there are very few metaphorical peaks that a determined Capricorn can’t reach. One of your specialties is the power to master seemingly improbable and impassable heights. But here’s an unex pected twist in your destiny: In the coming months, your forte will be a talent for going very far down and in. Your agility at ascending, for a change, will be useful in descending — for exploring the depths. Now is a good time to get started!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Evolved Aquarians are often blessed with unprece dented friendships and free-spirited intimacy and innovative alliances. People who align themselves with you may enjoy experimental collaborations they never imagined before engaging with you. They might be surprised at the creative potentials unleashed in them be cause of their synergy with you. In the coming weeks and months, you will have even more power than usual to generate such liaisons and connections. You might want to make a copy of this horoscope and use it as your call ing card or business card.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): I surveyed the history of literature to identify authors I consider highly intuitive. Piscean-born Anaïs Nin was my top choice. She used language with fluidity and lyricism. She lived a colorful, unpredictable life. No one better deserves the title of Intuition Champion. And yet she also had a discerning view of this fac ulty. She wrote, “I began to understand that there were times when I must question my intuition and separate it from my anxieties or fears. I must think, observe, question, seek facts and not trust blindly to my intuition.” I admire her caution. And I suspect it was one reason her intuition was so potent. Your assignment, Pisces, is to apply her approach to your relationship with your intuition. The coming months will be a time when you can supercharge this key aspect of your intelli gence and make it work for you better than it ever has before.

supported by:

Eva Sollberger’s

Annie Calacci has loved Halloween since she was little. Since 2004, she and her husband, Eric, have been creatively decorating their "Halloween House" on Route 15 in Jericho. Eva visited the Calaccis' spooky abode on October 31 to see this year's pirate-themed decorations, including a boat Eric built himself.

WOMEN seeking...

LOVE TO EXPLORE!

Relationships take time and develop with honesty. I hope to get to know someone who wants to be spontaneous and head out for the weekend. Explore museums, castles, trails and more. I do love being on the back of a motorcycle, too. Exploring New England to start. crystalrene, 50 seeking: M, l

VIVACIOUS FEMME VITALE

Here we are, searching for that special person who can add the missing element. Hoping to find someone genuine and secure in himself; solvent in finances; and enjoying some of the things I like — outdoors, cooking, watching movies, walking in woods or talking over a cuppa something good. Simple pleasures shared can become memorable and cherished moments. I await your call. sunni1sotrue 68 seeking: M, l

INTUITIVE, CARING, LOVE BEING OUTSIDE

I am a passionate, fit, caring, downto-earth woman looking to share adventures. I love to be active — hiking, skiing, running, yoga. I love to travel, as I am fascinated by the different ways people live their lives. I hope to have honest, interesting, authentic conversations where we really get to know each other. Let’s meet for coffee or a drink! lovemountains 57, seeking: M, l

LAUGHTER, OUTDOORSY GODDESS

I’m a people person who needs nature and witty friends. I’m politically engaged, but not obsessively so. I’m humanist; love animals and nature. I do improv and teach it. I love traveling and large bodies of water and swimming in them. I love cycling. tobeytomorrow, 64 seeking: M, Q, l

MAN BITES DOG

This is the worst part, because there is no right answer and it’s a pass/fail exam. I’m a Unique Woman (standard package, no upgrades). I like a comfortable silence almost as much as comfortable banter. Lead with your second-best opener, unless it’s late in the season. Pearly_Sweetcake 41, seeking: M, l

MATURE, INDEPENDENT AND LOYAL

I have a variety of interests and am always open to learning about what others do for fun. I’m not really a couch potato, but I’m not a regular at the gym either. I’m completely comfortable in my own space, keeping myself happily occupied most of the time. That being said, a special someone would be a welcomed diversion. SJ065 57, seeking: M, l

CREATIVE, WARMHEARTED OUTDOORSWOMAN

I’m taking the risk of “putting myself out there” with hopes of connecting with a man who enjoys getting his hands in the dirt, canoeing, kayaking, walking and hiking. I like carefully prepared whole-food meals, am an avid reader and appreciate lively discussions. I live a quiet, nature-connected life and value spending time with others who enjoy the same. turningleaf, 67 seeking: M, l

ENERGETIC, CREATIVE, HONEST, INDEPENDENT

I am a combination of outdoorswoman, ballroom dancer and retired application developer. Hardworking, honest, funloving, romantic. Family is important to to me. I have a log cabin in NEK that I love. Hoping to find someone to laugh, learn and explore with. Friends first. College grad, Caucasian. Cabingirl 66, seeking: M, l

ENJOY LIFE BEFORE I’M DEAD

Looking for someone to share time with. Traveling is one of my passions. I enjoy the outdoors, camping, hiking, walking, snowshoeing, music, dancing and playing cards. I love spending time with family and friends and my little dog. ladyinvt 66, seeking: M, l

GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT

I’m definitely a country-city girl who appreciates someone who understands “both worlds.” I definitely tend to be a ride-or-die girl. I’ve lived life’s high highs and low lows — most compatible with the same. Really “get” this song? “Welcome to My House” by Nu Breed featuring Jesse Howard (YouTube/official video). Yes, we’re on same wavelength. No, well, we’ll see. MVIslandDreamin 50, seeking: M, l

LOVER OF GOD SEEKS SAME

Tall and slender, athletic, active and fun, pretty enough and youthful, mother of adult kids, Swiss German American. I’m passionate and singleminded, vulnerable yet capable. I would love to rest in the arms of a kindred spirit. Love to travel, hate to pack. Ivy League education. Have always asked the big questions of life. Hope you do, too. Govinda, 66, seeking: M, l

NATURE-LOVING ARTIST

Looking for new friends for local hikes, bikes, sailing, concerts etc. Would love a travel partner and if love grows that would be fabulous. It’s fall 2022 and I just created this account...will write more soon. I prefer a chat on the phone or Facetime rather than lots of typing! Artfulllife, 65, seeking: M, W, l

GOOD RELATIONSHIPS START WITH FRIENDSHIP

Easygoing and loyal woman looking for friends first, casual dating and seeing what the future holds. Love everything about nature and being outdoors. Avid reader. Road trips. Art. Music. Wildlife. Open to trying almost anything! New experiences help us learn and open our minds. Vaccinated, boosted and masked as appropriate. Happy to share photos privately. Artfully_Outdoors 57, seeking: M

INFP DOESN’T FIT ANY BOXES

Fiber artist, long-distance backpacker, writer, weaver, teleskier, farmer. Uses a chain saw, dresses up as needed. Never makeup or heels. Strong and physical. Sometimes wants holding and comfort. Friendships are the most important things in my life. Seeking a true partnership, committed to seeing the best in each other. Mutual support, working through difficult moments and sharing playtime are all important to me. Ann 65, seeking: M, l

CREATIVE WOMAN WITH PASSION FOR SUNSETS

Vermont and Florida. Best of both worlds. Looking for a best friend. Last first date. Happy camper. Love photography, reading birding, movies, cooking, writing, together time, some alone time, a pal who has time and wants to warm up in the winters. Readunderthetrees 72 seeking: M, l MEN seeking...

EARLY MORNING FUN, BURLINGTON

I am 52-y/o bi white male. 5’9, 185 pounds, average build, dad body, good-looking. Want to explore another side of myself with the right person. Looking for someone who is honest, loyal and can be discreet. Must be early mornings near Burlington. I’m open-minded and versatile. AsherLindon2113, 51, seeking: M

LAID-BACK GUY

I’m laid-back and respectful. My interests include retro video games, drums, the outdoors, music, retro/vintage. A curious mind. Pmiller, 30, seeking: W, l

SMART, KIND & PLAYFUL

Easygoing, quick to smile, quiet observer with a handsome profile, living in the mountains of Vermont. A confirmed HSP and INFJ with an eye for the arts, a good listener, an appreciator of intelligence, soul, and silence. Searching for a friend and long-term companion to create and share a celebration of this short life. divinecomedy, 66 seeking: W, l

ARE YOU THE ONE?

Short and sweet: I’m a proud dad of four boys all grown up. I enjoy being outdoors and have interest in off-grid country living. Was a dairy farmer for 15 years, so know my way around the farm and critters. Looking to share a great life with a special person. If you want to know more, just ask. Milchmann1968, 54 seeking: W

CREATIVE GUY FOR SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP

I am a pastor and the executive director of ELOI Ministries, a nonprofit organization promoting human rights in Africa. I live in Colchester and am a donor impact and relationship manager for the DREAM Program. I am looking for a serious relationship. I love getting together with friends, traveling and growing vegetables in my garden. Originally from Uganda. STENDO 37, seeking: W, l

A SIMPLE KIND OF MAN

Easygoing, educated workaholic capable of taking on adversity. Openminded, patient, polite, understanding, professional. Prefer to read. Satisfied with a walk. Best stress management is to pet my dog. A rural country guy. Like music of many genres. Prefer a polo shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots. Just “Joe Average,” nothing special, a simple kind of man. billyjack 55, seeking: W

OLD-SCHOOL WITH VALUES

Hi, I’m Brian. I’m a hardworking and consistent guy. I prefer happy and positive people. I believe life often gives us what we deserve (not all the time, of course). I feel like dating over 40 is an absolute joke, LOL! I’d like to try some cash dating that hopefully leads me to the right person for me. IYELLALOT 45, seeking: W, l

BIG DOGS AND BACKYARD FIRES

Looking for someone to make a home with, ultimately. Between now and then, how about dinner dates around Vermont, skiing at Stowe or a heavy beer by the fire? Currently listening to Waxahatchee and Hayes Carll. Thanks for looking! crowe2602 34 seeking: W, l

KIND, CONSIDERATE, LONELY

I hate to admit I’m lonely, but the truth is circumstances combined with COVID to make this the current reality. As the world is opening up again, I’d like to return to international travel, dinners in Montréal, and generally living and enjoying life. snuggle_bunny 54, seeking: W

VERMONTER INTO YOGA AND MASSAGE

I was born and raised in Vermont. I am a yoga therapist and professional massage therapist specializing in MFR. I am into hiking, mountain bikes with my Rhodesian ridgeback. I participate in weekly NVC. I enjoy clean comedy, foreign films at the Savoy, a nice Asian restaurant. Prefer confident, honest women, affectionate, healthy minded, not into substances. LivingLuxuriously, 56, seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK, NO DRAMA!

I am a low-key, physically fit individual looking for the same. I do not need to be catered to. If you like to be creative and like to laugh, we could have a good time. lanshrk 59 seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK DUDE IN NEED

I’m in a long-term committed relationship. I run real hot, and I am open to just about anything. Strictly looking for NSA, discreet fun. Been pegged before, and I am open to that or exploring with another dude. Honestly, I am just open to getting into bed with someone and having a blast. Must host. Willing to drive. Justlookin4fun 30, seeking: M, W, TW, NC, NBP, Cp

EASYGOING

I am a happy, adventurous person who likes to get out and have fun. I love exploring new places and new adventures. I like dancing, hiking, being outdoors, spending time with friends! I’m open-minded. I can find fun in most everything. I am young at heart and enjoy being active. Love listening to rain falling! Like swimming, canoeing, kayaking. Happy63, 63, seeking: W, l

CURIOUS AND FUN

I’m seeking a non-possessive relationship fueled by a shared interest in exploring sensual and sexual pleasures and avoiding the obstacles that more traditional relationships place in the way of such exploration. I am curious about everything and appreciate curiosity and creativity. If you like good conversation (on virtually any topic) and great sex, we may be a match. Kamadeva, 72, seeking: W, Cp

WANT TO SHARE

I look and feel 20 years younger than my age. I have an airplane and a sailboat and enjoy both. I have a strong background in theater and promoting the arts. I’m looking for a companion who has a sense of adventure and is a good reader. Orion2 83 seeking: W, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

REALIST WHO IS OPEN-MINDED

I’m an honest, down-to-earth person who has been through a lot in life and is looking for companionship since I’m new to the area. I’m not like most people in that I feel people are afraid to talk to me. I don’t go out of my way to make friends. I wait for them to come to me. BreBri2022, 37 seeking: M, W, Cp

COUPLES seeking...

I’M YOUR PERSON

Welcome, everyone. Looking for some good people. Love to make some new friends. Looking for the right woman to share my fantasies with. Lovetohavefunnn, 41, seeking: W, l

LOOKING FOR OUR MAN!

Ideally hoping for a throuple/FWB situation. Us: established M/F couple. DD-free. (She: 44, straight BBW; he: 46, bi MWM). Drinks, 420-friendly, fires, get outside, music, Netflix and chill, always horny. You: DD-free, clean, masculine bi male(30ish to 50ish) who works and knows how to enjoy life! A little rough/hard (top, real man, etc.) with a compassionate heart and a bit of a snuggler. Connection is key. Let’s chat and get to know each other, then play! ginganddaddy 46, seeking: M

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES

We are an older and wiser couple discovering that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Would you be interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen 62, seeking: M, TM, NC, Cp, l

dating.sevendaysvt.com

WHATCHYA READIN’?

You were walking up Church Street with a bag from Phoenix and an iced matcha. I am envious of your afternoon with new books and a sweet drink. If you’d be interested in having company next time, I’d be thrilled to join you. When: Saturday, October 29, 2022. Where: top block of Church St. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915664

HELP WITH CROSSWORD?

I was with someone else when we met at the movie theater — unfortunately. We’re fellow alumni, and you were wearing … maybe a reddish sweater? Dressed like a professor? I dashed out to the nearest pile of Seven Days specifically for the puzzles, since you didn’t have one to share. I haven’t finished the crossword yet; I thought maybe you’d like to help? When: ursday, October 27, 2022. Where: e Marquis. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915663

FILM FESTIVAL BEAUTY

We spoke at the festival at the entrance of Alcarràs (7 p.m.). While I was fussing about being late, I sensed signs of attraction. It’s mutual. I noticed your gorgeous face and long, curly dark hair. I’m a woman of mixed race, with long, curly hair (seeking a woman). Let’s connect and begin the opening scene of our own story. When: Saturday, October 22, 2022. Where: Vermont International Film Festival. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915662

JUST A STONE’S THROW AWAY

You know when you meet someone, still remember their name months later, run into them again and only say “hi” but not their name because you don’t want them to feel uncomfortable? at was the case when I saw you and your dog in the woods by the creek. e pool’s closed, so how about a walk? When: Friday, October 21, 2022. Where: Essex Junction. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915660

MORE KELLBEL

I was going to message you, but it looks like you are now off this site. If you see this message, holler back. I, too, like to take long car rides. When: Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Where: Seven Days Personals. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915661

BLUE ADIDAS AT COMEDY CLUB

If your name is James, you wear blue Adidas sneakers, like brown boots and have half a brain, maybe we could finish that conversation face-to-face? When: Friday, October 21, 2022. Where: Comedy Club. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915659

HIKER PLAYING ‘WOULD YOU RATHER’

“Would you rather fart all day or have a booger hanging out?” I mean, what guy can resist a line like that? Your smile almost stopped my heart. Also, no ring on your left hand. I hope someone in your hiking group sees this. Would you like to get together for a few friendly rounds of “Would you rather”? When: Saturday, October 22, 2022. Where: on the trail of Stowe Pinnacle. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915658

SAW YOU AT SHAW’S

You are very beautiful, and I would like to date you. Some of my interests include reading, working out, bicycle riding and other things. I can cook, too!

I would like to find out your interests, as well. I live across from the store. Please get back to me. I want to see you! Sincerely, Jay. When: Monday, October 10, 2022. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915657

COLORFUL LIGHT, MAIN STREET LANDING

Your orange puffy coat was the perfect match for the light made pink by the trees. When: Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Where: Main Street Landing. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915654

I was surfing on a rock, trying to cross a puddle at Preston Pond with my pup during peak foliage, and you were hiking solo. In our brief encounter, you pointed out the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Want to hike together sometime? When: Saturday, October 8, 2022. Where: Preston Pond trail. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915656

BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE IN BLUE VAN

I see you in Essex driving in your blue van. You have gorgeous dark hair and a pretty face. Sometimes you leave Dunkin’ in your scrubs. People are fortunate to be in your care. If you have a family, they must be very lucky. You may see me waving at you from my red Jeep. I hope you wave back. When: ursday, October 20, 2022. Where: Essex. You: Man. Me: Man. #915655

WE SAW EACH OTHER AT SHAW’S

Hello. You are very beautiful. If you were here, I would invite you into my life. When: Monday, October 10, 2022. Where: Shaw’s. You: Man. Me: Man. #915653

BURLY BAGEL BAKERY & CAFÉ

I spied a dude with longish hair working behind the counter. I glanced at you and then again — awkwardly (sorry). I was wearing a Carhartt beanie and clear glasses. I thought you were super cute and am wondering if you’re single. If so, coffee sometime? When: Sunday, October 16, 2022. Where: South Burlington Bagel Bakery. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915650

PIKMIN DEBATE SATURDAY NIGHT

Your car group pulled up next to me at a red light in SB and asked if the sprout I had was a Pikmin reference. Just wanted to say it made my night to hear you were debating about a little sprout decoration and to have another fun game reference for my car. When: Saturday, October 15, 2022. Where: South Burlington near Staples. You: Group. Me: Woman. #915649

ARCHIE’S IN SHELBURNE

I saw you being sweet with your kids and wished I could have joined in your Frisbee game. I was in a yellow puffy coat at the next table with my parents. ere was excited talk of the playoffs. Something in your smile and presence struck me, and I wish I knew your name. When: Friday, October 14, 2022. Where: Archie’s Grill. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915648

De Saad Inthasak,

I’ve been dating someone for about six months. He’s a nice guy, and we get along really well, but the sex is terrible. I’ve

but

I WISH...

You’re in my thoughts constantly. I want to reach out to tell you how much I miss you, but we made a deal. I wish our circumstances were different, but here we are, pining over what could have been. I miss our banter and texting you photos of the sunrise, wishing you a good morning. I miss you. When: Saturday, October 26, 2019. Where: Grazers. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915647

GEORGIA MARKET, SUNDAY 10/9/22

It was near 2 p.m. We were waiting to check out. You had two bags of sugar, and you were wearing a black coat and jeans. I was also in a black coat and wearing shorts in the cold weather. If by chance you’re single, I would enjoy getting to know you. Hope your Sunday (and assumed baking) went well. When: Sunday, October 9, 2022. Where: Georgia Market. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915646

SWIMMING WITH AMY

Looking to reconnect with Amy, whom I met at Bolton Potholes this September. We talked about traveling and ADHD and swimming spots! You sent me a text, but before I could save your number, my phone completely died for good! I would love to reconnect somehow. When: Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Where: Bolton Potholes. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915645

PARKING LOT, NNE HANNAFORD

Around 1 p.m. Windy! My door made contact with the door of a parked Nissan black SUV. Saw no dent, moved on. Ten minutes later, I realized there’s a dent in my door, and I should have looked more closely at the other car. Went back, but the car was gone. If this was you, contact me with photo of car/ damage. When: Sunday, October 2, 2022. Where: NNE Hannaford parking lot. You: Group. Me: Man. #915644

INTERVALE FOOD HUB HUBBY

You: in a Subaru ahead of me in line for Intervale Food Hub pickup. Me: minding my business in a Prius until I couldn’t help but wonder if the produce package you drove away with was for one. Us: local food enthusiasts who could maybe make dinner together sometime? When: Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Where: Intervale. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915643

LATE-NIGHT FLIGHT

You: black hair, black leather jacket, black pants, white shirt, a beautiful siren. Me: one row behind diagonally on your left, listening to music, struck by you and trying not to stare but mostly failing there. I felt mutual interest and a potential spark. HMU, let’s find out. When: Sunday, October 2, 2022. Where: airplane. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915642

RIVER DIPPING

You jumped in for a quick dip, and I wish I had said something more than hi. e guy I was with I am not actually with. I’m still trying to hit the river as long as I can; I would love to run into you again! When: ursday, September 1, 2022. Where: Richmond. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915641

BEAUTY WAITING OUTSIDE POCO

You were sitting on the bench outside, right by the door, waiting with a couple of friends. I’m the guy in the jean jacket. We had an eye contact that was electric. Please tell me you are single. If not, my apologies, and your partner is lucky. When: ursday, September 29, 2022. Where: Poco restaurant in Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915640

THANK YOU FOR DOG TREATS

You left some dog treats for Ruby at my car at Shelburne trails. Can I thank you with a drink? When: Saturday, September 24, 2022. Where: Shelburne Bay Park. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915636

GIRL AT THE THRIFT SHOP

We chatted and shared a few laughs. You are the cute brunette with the Tigger shirt. I’m the man who’s gray around the edges and told you a joke. ought maybe we had a moment. Would you like to grab a coffee and chat? When: Saturday, September 17, 2022. Where: Replays. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915632

ON CAMEL’S HUMP SUMMIT

We talked about the trails on the mountain and about your work as a traveling nurse — up here until December. Afterward, I was sorry we weren’t going down the same way. If you’d like to get together for a hike or a coffee, that would be cool. When: Saturday, September 17, 2022.

Where: the summit of Camel’s Hump. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915631

if I should let

that’s the reason.

Why? Do you think you’ll be doing a solid for his next partner? If you tell this guy you’re dumping him because you think he stinks in the sack, you’re just going to hurt his feelings. If he wants to stay with you, he’ll probably argue that it will get better. And he may not be wrong.

Perhaps the connection you two have outside the bedroom is worth making the effort to improve your sexy times. Have you clearly communicated with him about the issue? What exactly isn’t

working for you? Do you both like totally different things, or is he less experienced than you? Maybe he hasn’t known you long enough to feel completely comfortable. e solution to your problem might not be all that tricky, and you’ll never know unless you try.

If you’re firm in your decision to call it quits, keep your complaints to yourself or at least soften the blow. It’s nobody’s fault that you two are simply sexually incompatible. Chemistry is unpredictable, and good sex is subjective. As the old saying goes, one person’s trash is another one’s treasure. His technique may be as good as gold to someone else.

Good luck and God bless,

What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

Along life’s highway: 1967 Canadian traditional sedan, high mileage but good steelbelted radials and rust-free, AM/FM radio, power steering, child’s car seat, seeks lightly used sporty 2000 Christian, low-maintenance family van (no child seat), 8-track a plus, for shared travel. #1614

Discreet oral bottom. 54y/o SWM, 5’8, slim, dark hair, blue eyes. Seeking any wellhung guys, 18 to 55 y/o, who are a good top and last a long time for more than one around. Phone only, but text. Champlain Valley. #L1615

Happily married older couples who’ve enjoyed some wonderful sensual encounters with other single M/F and couples. Seeking sensual encounters. Chat, sensual massage for starters. Well traveled, fun and outdoorsy. #1612

41-y/o male, formerly moderately handsome, now world-weary, depressed and socially isolated, looking for 30- to 50-y/o female to share time with. I’m über friendly and considerate, but years of depression and self-doubt have rendered me something of a self-hating loner. Interested to hear about you and your story. #1609

I am a SWM, young-looking 52 y/o in search of a trans woman. Not into drugs or 420 and not into a lot of drinking. Someone who wants to be treated like a lady in public and freaky in private. I am very respectful, romantic, physically passionate and enjoy some kinky situations. I enjoy a lot of outdoor activities, like swimming (sometimes skinnydipping), camping, fishing, walks and bike rides. I also like quiet nights at home, snuggling and watching movies. If you want to know more about me, please write. #1616

I’m a GMW (59 y/o) looking for younger guys who like to have fun with older men. I’m very adventurous, like everything and am in need of a good workover. Rutland area. Call or text. #1613

I’m a male, 78, seeking a female, 50-plus, to come live with me and do cooking and house cleaning. I have two dogs to take care of. I like outdoor work and hunting. I need someone to be with me to love. #1611

I’m a female seeking the person who waved at me (almost two months ago) by the liquor warehouse in Winooski. You were interested in me, but I told you I had someone else. Now I realize I’m interested in you. You drove a newer-model gray truck. #1610

Int net-Free Dating!

Gracious, attentive, educated, humorous soul seeks a fit, tender and natural female counterpart (52 to 65) to bask in autumn splendor. I prefer simplicity over complexity, quiescence over commotion and creativity over conformity. Hot cider and ginger cookies await! #1607

Female, 60, seeks an intelligent, curious and open man to ponder/ explore things like the perfect bite of a meal, the wonder of the stars, the meaning behind a piece of art, the answers to a crossword puzzle and more. #1606

Chittenden County female, 52, seeking male 52 to 60. I’m veg, progressive, educated, nonsmoker, nondrinker, a dog and bird person. I love art, architecture, museums, documentaries, old classics, organic gardening and DIY projects. #1601

An open letter to all the beautiful women, couples and men with lifestyle swing interests. WM, 6’1, very handsome and adventurous. Looking for daytime fun! Let’s play! #1603

for

words

A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

GENDER (OPTIONAL)

TO:

Days Love Letters

Box 1164, Burlington,

to “Seven

us at 802-865-1020,

GENDER (OPTIONAL)

I’m a SWM seeking a SBF. Kinkier the better. Love women’s clothes, high heels and stockings. Very clean. Phone. #1605

I’m a 70-y/o male seeking a woman, 60 to 75 y/o. I’m active, love the outdoors, walks on beaches and camping. Alone and lonely. Would like to meet for companionship. #1604

Woman, 57. Healthy, respectful, genuine. I’d like to share the last dance with a man in the country. A man who is kind, healthy and stable. A man who cares about how he treats a person and is well liked by others. Phone number, please. #1600

ISO sympathetic connection with BM stud and his woman. In need of attentive oral service. Mature WM offers body massage and friendly fulfillment of need for compatible couple. #1595

I’m a GWM seeking gay or bi men for NSA fun. I can be discreet if needed. I’m fun and adventurous. Primarily sub but can be aggressive. Mid-central Vermont, south of Rutland. #1593

confidential

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