Seven Days, January 31, 2024 by Seven Days

BUDGET BUSTERS

With tax hikes looming, schools ask state for help PAGE 14

VE RMO NT ’S IN DEPE NDEN T VO ICE JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024 VOL.29 NO.17 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Strafford songwriter NOAH KAHAN is Vermont’s biggest pop culture export in years. How the hell did that happen? BY C H R IS FAR NS W O R TH , PAGE 2 6

NOAH’S ARC GOOD SPORT

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VT man helps kids hit the slopes

SECOND COURSE

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Three Penny Taproom’s revival

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WEEK IN REVIEW JANUARY 24-31, 2024 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY FILE: DIANA BOLTON

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Retired weatherman Tom Messner bought an ownership stake in the Vermont Lake Monsters baseball team. Here’s hoping he keeps the rain away.

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26 COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE LUKE AWTRY

NEWS+POLITICS 14 Budget ‘Armageddon’?

With large tax hikes looming on Town Meeting Day, school districts ask the state for help

Addison Prosecutor Back at Work After DUI Arrest Distress Signal

A lawsuit accuses Burlington police of using excessive force on a Black 14-year-old with disabilities

Bills Target Book Bans in School and Public Libraries Ledbetter to Retire After 40-Year News Career Shelterless

Burlington doesn’t have enough emergency beds, and people are getting turned away this winter

Motel Owner Will Turn Over $300,000 in Damage Deposits for Unhoused Vermonters

Community Shares Concerns, Ideas at the Flynn’s Strategic Planning Meeting

Tax the Rich: Lawmakers Debate Possible New Tax Impacts

In the Stars

FEATURES 26 Doing Good Turns

Theater review: Constellations, Northern Stage

Lebanon Opera House Opens With a Makeover for Its Centennial

Michael Krasnow has spent decades giving kids skis, snowboards and a taste of independence

Pet Project

ARTS+CULTURE 44

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LOOKING FORWARD

MAGNIFICENT

THURSDAY 1-SUNDAY 4

Byte the Dust Local sketch comedy troupe Stealing From Work dives into the metaverse in Artificial Irrelevance, playing at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts in Burlington. Written by Vermont theater scene stalwart Marianne DiMascio (and definitely not by ChatGPT), these smart, acerbic scenes skewer our singularly silly modern era.

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 64

COMPI L E D BY E MI LY HA MI LTON

FRIDAY 2-SUNDAY 4

Brrr-ning Man Skiers, music lovers and their furry friends are all invited to the return of Subaru WinterFest at Killington Resort. This free weekend sees the slopes packed with tasty snacks, hot beverages, and live music from the likes of Yonder Mountain String Band and Jeremiah Tall. Subaru owners get VIP gifts and other surprises.

WEDNESDAY 7

MUSIC MAN

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 64

Violinist and former Silkroad Ensemble member Johnny Gandelsman presents This Is America: Part II at Next Stage Arts Project in Putney. He plays a slate of works, commissioned by Hanover, N.H.’s Hopkins Center for the Arts, that reflect on the state of U.S. society today. The program includes “Breathe” by Dartmouth College alum Kojiro Umezaki, who will be in attendance to discuss his work.

SATURDAY 3

Swiss Me Luck Winter sports lovers and charcuterie aficionados alike cheese the day at Highland Center for the Arts’ annual Curds and Curling event in Greensboro. Players sweep their way to victory using a wheel of Jasper Hill cheddar as a curling stone, while spectators relax by the fire with a plate of raclette and a Barr Hill cocktail.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt. com/postevent.

SATURDAY 3 & SUNDAY 4

Saturday Knight Live Fear ye not: Thy gowns and doublets shall not lay abandoned ’til summer, for the Winter Renaissance Faire arriveth at the Champlain Valley Exposition in the hamlet of Essex Junction. The family-friendly festivities run for two days and feature music, performances, swordfighting demonstrations, and an artisan alley of craftspeople and mead makers from across New England.

Johnny Gandelsman

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

ONGOING

Jolly Old Town North Ferrisburgh artist Colossal Sanders brings some levity to Burlington with his new exhibition in the City Hall Gallery. Sanders’ lighthearted digital montage illustrations depict a Vermont only slightly weirder than it is in real life, where massive statues of Bernie and his mittens adorn the landscape and the Vergennes Moose Rodeo just celebrated its 100th anniversary.

WEDNESDAY 7

Monster Mash

“Breadloaf Bridge” by Colossal Sanders

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Vermont author GennaRose Nethercott emerges from the woods to celebrate the launch of her new short-story collection at Burlington’s Phoenix Books. Following up on the success of her debut novel Thistlefoot, in Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart Nethercott explores the cultural idea of monsters and the morbid magic of embracing the beast within. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Out of the Sticks

of money to see him perform in the kind of venues he dreamed of playing as a kid ... His massive audiences are heavily populated by Gen Z fans who will scream his lyrics back to him, often through tears. And these aren’t just the ‘Oh, my God, a famous person!’ sort of tears but the ‘group therapy bordering on mass religious experience’ kind.”

LUKE AWTRY

In the late afternoon of Saturday, July 29, 2023, I was walking home from the office. Something was happening on the Burlington waterfront — a common summer occurrence — and I avoided it by taking Lake Street, which runs behind the concert staging area. “Who’s playing?” a woman asked me as we passed each other on the sidewalk. I had no idea and told her so, fully aware that I should know as the publisher of Burlington’s premier arts and entertainment weekly. Minutes later, I started climbing car-free Depot Street as a large number of people streamed down the hill — concertgoers, but not the usual Vermont mix of casually dressed music fans hauling outdoor gear. It was a gaggle of excited young women, a demographic rarely seen in my corner of Burlington’s Old North End. Still chagrined but also curious, I picked one out of the crowd and asked who she was going to see. She happily replied: Noah Kahan. I acted cool but in truth was thinking, Who? Somehow, in the swirl of work, I’d missed the story of Vermont’s latest breakout music act. I felt like Rip van Winkle — the old lady version. When I got home, I scoured the Seven Days music section for some sign of the big show but couldn’t find anything eye-catching. I emailed music writer Chris Farnsworth and his editor, Dan Bolles: “Is Noah Kahan playing here live tonight and tomorrow? I’m confused.” Dan responded: “Those shows were announced months ago and sold out immediately.” Dan and Chris patiently explained over email that Seven Days has a long-held policy of not giving much ink to sold-out shows. It creates false hope, they argued, and takes valuable space away from events that still have the capacity to accommodate people looking for something to do. In fact, I found a basic listing for the show in our calendar, noting that it was sold out. In retrospect, I wished we’d made a bigger deal about it. Kahan’s back-to-back waterfront gigs were huge — a public spectacle right in the heart of Burlington. The shows were newsworthy. Especially because, as it turned out, those young women were on to something: Kahan was lifting off into celebrity space. Within a matter of months, the Strafford native was playing his hit song “Stick Season” on “Saturday Night Live.” He’d been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and was booked in giant arenas across the country, including Madison Square Garden and Fenway Park, as part of his 2024 We’ll All Be Here Forever tour. As Chris writes in this week’s cover story about Kahan: “He’s cultivated a fan base reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s in its dedication and willingness to shell out gobs

Noah Kahan performing at Burlington’s Waterfront Park

A year ago, Kahan’s press people were begging music journalists for coverage. Now, Chris writes, they’re “replying to interview requests with, essentially: Um, maybe in the summer?” Not everybody likes Kahan’s music. And some local musicians grumble that he didn’t “‘pay his dues’ by slogging it across the stage at Nectar’s in Burlington or playing lovable dives like Charlie-O’s World Famous in Montpelier,” Chris notes. But there’s no debating that this unassuming, flannel-clad young man is Vermont’s most recent cultural success story. If you missed some key chapters, as I did, give “Noah’s Arc” (page 26) a read before this weekend’s Grammys.

Paula Routly If you like Seven Days and can afford to help pay for it, become a Super Reader! Look for the “Give Now” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your address and contact info to: SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164

For more information on making a financial contribution to Seven Days, please contact Gillian English: VOICEMAIL: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 EMAIL: SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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news

MORE INSIDE

BOOK BANS MAY BE BANNED PAGE 16

COURTS

NO PLACE FOR THE HOMELESS PAGE 18

WEALTH TAX?

Addison Prosecutor Back at Work After DUI Arrest

PAGE 20

S TO RY & PH O TO B Y DE RE K B RO UW E R derek@sevendaysvt.com THOM GLICK

Eva Vekos

Budget ‘Armageddon’? With large tax hikes looming on Town Meeting Day, school districts ask the state for help B Y ALISON N O VAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

chool districts begin drafting their budgets long before voters weigh in on Town Meeting Day. This year, despite plenty of preparation, administrators say unexpected complications mean those budgets are at risk of being defeated at the polls on March 5. In South Burlington, for instance, administrators worked for months on a $69 million proposed budget — around $6.5 million more than this year’s, largely due to nonnegotiable factors including the loss of federal pandemic aid, inflation, and increasing employee health insurance costs and wages. Because of a temporary provision in a new education funding law, that budget would have increased South Burlington homeowners’ property tax rate by just 5 percent — or $295 a year more for

EDUCATION

a home worth $438,000, the city’s average home value. Then, on January 2, the state released the common level of appraisal for each town. The CLA, which is calculated by reviewing three years of home sales data, is a tool meant to ensure that each town is contributing its fair share to Vermont’s education fund. If a town’s CLA is below 100 percent — meaning homes are assessed at less than their actual value — property tax rates are increased to reflect the difference. Despite a citywide reappraisal in 2021, South Burlington’s CLA dropped 11 percentage points from last year, to 82 percent — an indication of its booming real estate market. Applying that number to the education funding formula, South Burlington residents are now looking at an 18.3 percent tax hike — an increase of $1,080 a year for a typical home. Communities across the state are

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

grappling with similar tax increases. Rising costs, the use of education-fund surpluses to buy down tax rates in recent years and out-of-whack CLAs are partly to blame. But so is Act 127, a bill passed last year that was meant to increase equity in school funding. It has led to unforeseen consequences that threaten to harm districts, including the more impoverished ones it was meant to aid. That’s left Vermont school systems — already confronted with dire facilities problems and the post-pandemic mental health needs of students — facing their most difficult budget season in recent memory. With Town Meeting Day just five weeks away, districts are calling on legislators to find a fix. They are also wrestling with how to explain the tax increase to voters, many of whom are already stretched thin by the BUDGET ‘ARMAGEDDON’?

» P.16

It was just another manic Monday for Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos, who represented Vermont during a full slate of court hearings despite her arrest last week on suspicion of DUI. Vekos had not made any public statements since state police cited her last Thursday night for allegedly driving drunk to the scene of an active homicide investigation. But her decision to appear in court on Monday — where she dodged inquiries from reporters — suggested the state’s attorney would continue to work as the criminal case against her is pending. When arrested, Vekos refused to take a field sobriety test, provide fingerprints, stand for a mug shot or submit to an evidentiary breath test, state police said. The docket on Monday included an afternoon hearing in the high-profile murder case against a 14-year-old Burlington teen who is accused of shooting and killing another teen last October while a group of friends were playing with a handgun. During the routine proceeding, Vekos fielded questions from Judge David Fenster about a recently filed motion by the defendant’s public defender to transfer the case to juvenile court. Fenster scheduled a follow-up hearing for late February. Vekos also sat at the prosecutor’s table during several hearings involving defendants charged with driving under the influence. She participated in at least one of those DUI hearings, without objection from the defense. Outside the courtroom, Kelly Gouveia, the mother of October homicide victim Madden Gouveia, spoke with reporters about her late son’s case. Through tears, Kelly Gouveia said she’d never spoken to Vekos and heard little from her assigned victim’s advocate. Officials hadn’t told Gouveia that Monday’s hearing was taking place, she said. Vekos exited the courtroom as Gouveia was giving an on-camera interview in the hallway and refused to comment on her arrest. Gouveia said she was aware of the charge filed against the prosecutor assigned to her son’s homicide. “I hope it doesn’t hurt [Madden’s] case,” Gouveia said. “I pray the Lord.” ➆

Distress Signal A lawsuit accuses Burlington police of using excessive force on a Black 14-year-old with disabilities

BY COURTN E Y L AMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

LAW ENFORCEMENT

COURTNEY LAMDIN

Cathy Austrian

he mother of a Black teenager with intellectual disabilities is suing the City of Burlington, alleging that police officers used excessive force when they pinned him to his bed to retrieve a stolen e-cigarette in 2021. Filed on Tuesday in Vermont Superior Court, the suit says officers “needlessly escalated” the situation, and then city EMTs forcibly sedated the 14-year-old

WHAT HAPPENED WAS WRONG,

AND I’LL DO WHATEVER I CAN TO SEE THAT THERE CAN BE CHANGE, JUSTICE AND HEALING. CAT H Y AUST R IAN

boy with ketamine. The sedative gained notoriety in 2019 after it was administered to a young Black man in Colorado who later died. The Burlington incident grabbed national attention in early 2022 amid a debate over police officers’ use of force. Cathy Austrian, the boy’s mother, alleges that the officers’ and paramedics’ actions were racially motivated. She says her son’s experience underscores the need for stronger police oversight in Burlington

— an issue on which city leaders have repeatedly failed to find consensus. “I’m committed to this because of my family,” she told Seven Days. “What happened was wrong, and I’ll do whatever I can to see that there can be change, justice and healing.” Austrian is being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont and the New York City offices of Latham & Watkins, an international law firm. The MacArthur Justice Center, which litigates police misconduct lawsuits, is consulting on the case. Beyond punitive damages, the lawsuit also demands better anti-bias training for police and a policy that would ban city paramedics from using ketamine on people in mental distress. Reached on Tuesday evening, Samantha Sheehan, spokesperson for Mayor Miro Weinberger, declined to comment because city attorneys had not yet reviewed the case. Seven Days interviewed Austrian and reviewed the lawsuit, police reports and more than an hour of police body camera footage to report this story. Austrian began fostering her son in 2005, when he was just 5 months old. She later adopted him. His birth mother is developmentally delayed, according to the lawsuit, and his own cognitive DISTRESS SIGNAL

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SPRING EXHIBITIONS

1/23/24 2:03 PM

FEBRUARY 9 — MAY 11, 2024 OPENING RECEPTION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 5–7 PM

Paula Higa, The Migrant Body, 2023 (film still)

Margaret Jacobs, Subtle and Strong, 2022-3, steel

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPRING EXHIBITIONS VISIT: BURLINGTONCITYARTS.ORG Hospitality sponsors: Lake Champlain Chocolates, Farrell Distributing, and William Hill Estate Winery. Burlington City Arts is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council & the National Endowment for the Arts.

» P.22 4T-BCA013124 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

1/29/24 2:26 PM

news STATEHOUSE

Bills Target Book Bans in School and Public Libraries B Y A N N E WAL L AC E ALL E N anne@sevendaysvt.com

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

OM K

state’s high cost of living and inflation and don’t understand how Vermont’s convoluted education funding system works. “I’ve never seen a situation quite like this,” said Jeff Francis, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents Association. “The pressures that school districts are experiencing are greater than ever before.” Elaine Collins, superintendent of North Country Supervisory Union, put it more bluntly at a legislative hearing last week. “It is a miracle if we’re going to pass school budgets this year,” Collins said. “It’s a mess. And it’s a mess, I think, not of the schools’ making.” If voters reject their school budget on Town Meeting Day and don’t approve an amended budget by July 1, districts would be mandated to level-fund and use their current year budget figures. Nonnegotiable rising costs related to teachers’ salaries, health insurance and inflation would force districts to cut what they actually control: staffing and programs. In South Burlington, for example, reverting to this year’s budget would mean slashing millions from the proposed one. Even then, South Burlington homeowners would still end up with a 16.5 percent tax increase — saving the average homeowner just $108 for the year as compared to the proposed budget. To achieve that, the district, one of few in the state that has a growing student population, would have to consider cuts in the arts, foreign languages, advanced placement classes, athletics, clubs and transportation, superintendent Violet Nichols said. At a January school board meeting, the district’s finance director, Tim Jarvis, referred to that scenario as “Armageddon.” State aid and how it’s calculated is at the heart of the problem. All school taxes — whether from homes, commercial properties, sales, rooms and meals, or lottery — go into the state education fund. The education fund, in turn, sends districts money to cover the costs of voter-approved spending plans. But several factors besides school districts’ spending influence the property tax rate that homeowners ultimately pay. Those include districts’ equalized pupil counts, a figure that gives extra weight to students with characteristics that make them more costly to educate, and the common level of appraisal, which has gone down this year in most Vermont towns. In 2022, the legislature passed Act 127, a law intended to give more weight in the equalized pupil count to students living in poverty, in rural areas and who are English language learners. The change was meant to enable historically disadvantaged districts to

« P.14

offer more services without raising property taxes. To soften the blow for more affluent and homogeneous districts, Act 127 included a provision that capped homestead property tax rate increases at 5 percent for the next five years, as long as districts did not increase per-pupil spending by more than 10 percent year over year. South Burlington, a loser in the Act 127 equation, realized that with the law’s tax cap, the district could get close to the 10 percent threshold without direct property tax consequences. The district capitalized by adding $2 million for a construction

Hoping to head off national conservative groups that are pushing book bans, several Vermont lawmakers are sponsoring bills that would make it tougher to remove items from school and public libraries over ideological concerns. Rep. Robin Chesnut-Tangerman (D-Middletown Springs) told the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs last Thursday that the bill he is cosponsoring, H.806, would restrict state funding to libraries that ban or remove library materials due to “partisan” disapproval. “This is driven by increasing attempts to control material available in public and school libraries based on political or ideological grounds,” said Chesnut-Tangerman, one of 17 lawmakers sponsoring the proposal. H.806 also calls for libraries to establish policies for handling requests for bans. Chesnut-Tangerman acknowledged that he doesn’t know of any books being banned in Vermont. Yet as national conservative groups seek to gain influence in all states, the bill is a preventive measure, he said. “I don’t believe this is a solution in search of a problem,” he told the committee. “I think it’s a timely intervention.” Book bans have become increasingly common nationally in recent years. A report from the writers’ advocacy group PEN America said more books were banned from school libraries in fall 2022 than in each of the prior two semesters. Some states have recently passed laws censoring ideas and materials in public schools, the PEN report said. “Broad efforts to label certain books ‘harmful’ and ‘explicit’ are expanding the type of content suppressed in schools,” PEN said in a recent report. The states with the most instances of book bans last year were Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah and South Carolina, PEN said. Vermont librarians are taking notice. H.806 is one of a few bills introduced this year aimed at library censorship. Another is S.220, a bill drafted in response to a November report on the status of Vermont libraries; it contains a section on intellectual freedom. Another bill, H.807, addresses bans at school libraries only. ➆

Budget ‘Armageddon’?

IT’S A MESS.

AND IT’S A MESS, I THINK, NOT OF THE SCHOOLS’ MAKING. E L AINE C O L L INS

reserve fund in what is now a $71 million budget proposal. School board members believed voters would be more likely to approve the hefty 18.7 percent property tax increase if the district showed it was setting aside money for needed capital improvements. Similarly, Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District, which is also being negatively impacted by Act 127, added an extra $5.7 million to next year’s budget for improvements to its aging buildings, grounds and infrastructure — without having to hike taxes. “We believe it is very important for [Mount Mansfield] to optimize this limited and once-in-a-generation opportunity,” school board members wrote in a letter to the community earlier this month. Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), who chairs the House Ways and Means

Committee and helped draft Act 127, said that, on its face, it is “a perfectly reasonable decision” for a district to budget for outstanding facilities issues. Many school buildings in Vermont need major repairs, and the state hasn’t offered school construction aid for more than 15 years. But, Kornheiser said, the problem is that “if 50 districts do that, it’s an extra $100 million in education spending.” That would require the education fund to raise more money from districts that aren’t using the cap provision, driving up taxes in communities that were meant to benefit from Act 127. Kornheiser and Sen. Ann Cummings (D-Washington), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to school districts on January 19, expressing their concern about the way some were taking advantage of the 5 percent tax cap. All districts using the provision, the legislators wrote, would be required to present their budgets to the state for review. “If districts act solely in their own rational self-interest, these costs will be picked up by property taxes in neighboring towns,” the letter said. Those towns include Winooski, one of the districts that was supposed to benefit from Act 127 due to its large number of multilingual and low-income students. Administrators there believed they could beef up services without raising taxes. But Winooski school board members Robert Millar and Nicole Mace warned legislators in a recent letter that as more districts use the cap provision to set money aside for capital improvements, Winooski could lose its advantage. “We are hoping the Legislature will take up this matter with the urgency that it requires now that it is clear that the transition provisions of Act 127 are subverting the very policy objectives Act 127 aims to achieve,” Millar and Mace wrote. North Country superintendent Collins, whose relatively poor, rural district was also poised to increase spending without a tax hike, expressed similar concerns. Collins told lawmakers that in December, district officials projected tax rates would decline significantly. But after receiving lower-thanexpected CLA numbers earlier this month, in conjunction with the ballooning budgets of other districts whose property taxes are capped, homeowners in the Northeast Kingdom district could face an 18 percent average tax rate increase. In his budget address last week, Gov. Phil Scott said Vermonters can’t afford the projected property tax increases and gave broad suggestions for how the state might tackle the issue, including increasing class sizes, consolidating schools, addressing steeply rising health care and retirement costs for educators, and even rethinking the

SLASHED! STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD!

education funding formula. Scott said he would work to find solutions but needed the legislature to be “a willing partner.” His suggestions, though, are for long-term fixes — cold comfort to school districts that are bracing for Town Meeting Day. Last Thursday, legislators heard from school and state officials about the quandary. Jake Feldman, a senior fiscal analyst with the Department of Taxes, said the CLA was not responsible for driving up taxes. He pointed to “unprecedented” increases in anticipated education spending, as well as one-time funds the state used in previous years to buy down property tax rates. That has created a “tax rate trough that you need to then climb out of.” But, in an indication of just how confounding Vermont’s ed finance system is, that’s not how many districts see it. Multiple administrators cited dropping CLA numbers as one of the main factors affecting their projected tax increases. Many also took aim at Act 127, which, some say, has incentivized additional spending because of its vague language around the cap provision. If the legislature is planning to change the rules around the legislation, they said, it needs to tell districts as soon as possible. At the core of much of the testimony was a palpable fear that, if nothing changes, education costs will continue to soar, taxpayers will not be able to bear the burden, and students and families will suffer the consequences. “As school boards, we need explicit direction from the state on the following: Is it the will of the legislature and the governor to dramatically scale back public education as we know it in Vermont?” Essex Westford school board chair Robert Carpenter testified. “Due to Act 127 and the CLA, we must weigh laying off hundreds of teachers and staff who are middle-class community members or pass the burden … to our taxpayers. “Either way,” he added, “the fallout will alter the fabric of our communities.” At a joint hearing on Tuesday of the House Ways and Means and Education committees, legislators acknowledged the intense reaction they’d heard from school officials. The lawmakers said they would alter the 5 percent cap provision and other elements of Act 127 “this year” — but did not specify how or when, exactly. Ways and Means chair Kornheiser acknowledged that the law had proved problematic. “I think [school districts] are absolutely … following the language of this law,” Kornheiser said, “and what I’ve also seen is it’s behaving very differently than we imagined it would when we passed it.” ➆

ONCE A LIFETIME STANDINOUT FROM THEPRICING! CROWD! MEDIA NOTE

Ledbetter to Retire After 40-Year News Career BY R ACH EL HELLM AN rhellman@sevendaysvt.com

Stewart Ledbetter, a fixture of Vermont’s broadcast news industry, announced his retirement from NBC5 on Monday. Ledbetter currently anchors the 5:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and the Sunday public affairs program “NBC5 In Depth.” His last scheduled broadcast will be on February 16. Ledbetter, 62, began his reporting career as editor of his high school paper. After graduating from the University of Vermont, he briefly worked at the radio stations WJOY-AM and WQCR-FM before joining NBC5 in 1984. Throughout the 1990s, Ledbetter served as news director at NBC5, launching the station’s first website. He gained a reputation as a reliable and balanced Statehouse reporter. Stewart Ledbetter “There are very few people who can provide the wealth of knowledge Stewart has when it comes to state politics,” NBC5 news director Michael LaFlesh said in a written statement. Ledbetter had plenty of opportunities to move to a national stage throughout his career, but he chose to stay in Vermont, where he grew up. “I agonized over job offers every three or four years,” Ledbetter told Seven Days. “But I’ve always enjoyed the privilege of getting to know my home state really well and being able to sleep in my own bed at night.” From 2007 to 2023, Ledbetter also served as moderator of the Friday reporter roundtable “Vermont This Week” on Vermont Public. He was the longest-tenured host in the show’s 41-year history. Ledbetter’s work has earned broadcast awards from the Vermont and New York Associated Press, a regional Emmy, and the 2015 national Edward R. Murrow Award for continuing coverage, which he shared with a colleague. He was inducted into the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2019. Ledbetter said he will take the advice of former U.S. senator Patrick Leahy, who called him on Monday to offer his congratulations: He’ll rest and visit family in Florida before jumping into any new projects. “I have been very happy,” he said of his career. “I have no regrets looking back.” ➆

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news

Shelterless

Burlington doesn’t have enough emergency beds, and people are getting turned away this winter B Y CO L I N FL A ND ER S • colin@sevendaysvt.com DARIA BISHOP

HOUSING

An encampment on Battery Street in Burlington before it was cleared out

urlington’s homeless shelters have nowhere near enough capacity to put up all the people seeking a bed. So last Thursday afternoon, as they have each day this winter, people began queuing up behind the repurposed Veterans of Foreign Wars building to compete for a place to sleep. Aunnah Guzman, 29, was first in line. She had arrived at noon, five hours before the temporary shelter was to open, to make sure she’d land a spot. The city-run facility has about 30 beds, but only a third are available to walk-ins each night — first come, first served. “I have a sense of security — some sense of security — as long as I show up,” she said, huddled in a heavy coat for warmth on a wet curb. “So, I show up.” Eight more people were in line by 1 p.m. They smoked cigarettes and ate homemade burritos dropped off by two men in a van. One woman paced the parking lot, talking to herself. Another laid out blankets. “I’m taking a nap,” she announced. “No one take my spot!” The number of people without shelter in Burlington has jumped to levels that, for 18

the first time in memory, eclipse the city’s ability to provide emergency quarters for everyone. The city estimates that somewhere between 200 and 300 people are unsheltered in the Burlington area, up from fewer than 50 a year ago. The sharp increase has led to fierce competition for limited beds and has forced shelters to turn people away each night. They’ve wound up pitching tents in city parks, squatting in abandoned buildings and spending nights in parking garages. Neither the city nor advocates for the homeless have come up with an immediate remedy, leaving few options for those without shelter. Alcohol dulls the piercing cold for Zane Davison, 29, who has slept outside this winter when he couldn’t get to the shelter in time. “At least then I can train my nerves to think that I’m not cold,” he said. (Alcohol, however, actually increases the risk of potentially life-threatening hypothermia, according to research.) During cold snaps in previous years, service providers could reliably connect someone with a bed at a local shelter or a room in the state’s long-running motel

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SHELTER IN BURLINGTON HAS JUMPED TO LEVELS THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MEMORY,

ECLIPSE THE CITY’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY QUARTERS FOR EVERYONE. program. But several factors have made it much more difficult to find beds. Last January, Chittenden County had an estimated 45 unsheltered residents, according to Vermont’s federally mandated tally of people living outside, known as the Point-in-Time count. This year’s tally, conducted last week, won’t

be finalized until later this year, but data from other sources have the city expecting a much higher count. In the weeks after the state evicted some 800 people from a pandemic-era motel program last June, Chittenden County service agencies reported engaging with more than 200 people thought to be living outside. The population has held steady ever since. “We’ve never seen numbers that high,” said Sarah Russell, the city’s homelessness liaison. Other factors are at play, too. Lowincome households have been battered by steep rent hikes and persistent inflation, leaving many unable to afford basic living expenses. A worsening drug problem has also made it harder for some people to keep affordable apartments once they receive them. Landlords filed a record number of evictions last year. The increase in unsheltered people is all the more shocking, Russell said, considering how many more beds exist today compared to just several years ago. Since 2019, shelter capacity in the Burlington area has grown from 149 to 349, with 90 percent of the beds located in the Queen City. Every shelter now has a wait list; more than 115 people are vying for a spot at the Elmwood Avenue pods. “That’s why I’m here,” said Betsy CallTrottier, 40, who showed up four hours early at the VFW last Thursday. “There’s nowhere else to go.” The state’s cold-weather motel program typically offers a backstop for those turned away from homeless shelters. That program, established long before the pandemic, eases its eligibility requirements during the winter months. The program had enough rooms for about 1,800 households last year. But some motel owners chose to stop participating, and there are now 200 fewer rooms to go around. On Monday, the Department for Children and Families, which runs the motel program, reported that there were almost no available beds anywhere in the state. The department says it’s turning away 60 callers each day. Last February, when temperatures dipped into the negative teens, Burlington opened an emergency shelter at the Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center, SHELTERLESS

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STATEHOUSE

Motel Owner Will Turn Over $300,000 in Damage Deposits for Unhoused Vermonters

ONCE IN A LIFETIME PRICING!

B Y A N N E WAL L AC E AL L E N • anne@sevendaysvt.com FILE: ZACHARY STEPHENS

A young child looking through the window and tattered screens at the Quality Inn in Brattleboro

Motel owner Anil Sachdev has agreed to pay $300,000 in restitution for unhoused Vermonters who stayed in his properties on the state’s dime during the pandemic and never got their damage deposit when they left. Sachdev, the CEO of a company that owns seven motels in Rutland, Montpelier, Berlin, Barre and Brattleboro, received 429 security deposits of $3,300 from the Department for Children and Families when it was housing Vermonters in five of the company’s motels. Residents who stayed four months or longer were eligible to keep the deposits when they moved out, as long as they left their room in good condition. The motel’s contract with the state stipulated that if residents left after less than four months, the motel would return the deposits to DCF — which administers the motel program — minus funds spent on repairs. But Sachdev failed to return the money as agreed, the Attorney General’s Office said, and did not provide proof that the money had been spent on damage. In a prepared statement, the office said some motel occupants received notices saying they “may have” caused damage. “Other former occupants had deposits withheld in full or in part based on records deemed problematic,” the statement said. “For example, records that could not expressly verify whether a particular occupant caused the alleged damages, or that were submitted without adequate supporting photographic evidence, or showed inconsistencies or appeared duplicative of other similar damages forms.” Under the settlement, former motel residents who received inadequate information will be entitled to receive up to the full $3,300 security deposit. Others who got partial payments could get additional funds.

“Vermonters who are temporarily displaced and living without permanent shelter deserve the same consideration as any other consumer: to be treated fairly and receive adequate notice when decisions are made about their money,” Attorney General Charity Clark said in the prepared statement. The enforcement action was brought through Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act, a civil statute; Sachdev was not charged with any crime. From now on, motel owners and operators will be required to show the state proof that they are using security deposits for repairs and maintenance, the settlement said. Sachdev was also ordered to pay for an administrator who will set up a website and accept claims from former occupants. Last year, DCF reported that Sachdev’s properties had garnered close to $20 million in monthly payments from the state over roughly nine months, according to DCF data. That was roughly one-third of the department’s total spending on the program, which included more than 70 lodging establishments. The state paid Sachdev about $1.4 million in deposits, said Lauren Jandl, chief of staff at the Attorney General’s Office. The state was still using his motels to house Vermonters, she said. With a critically low supply of housing and one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country, Vermont has been using its motel program, called the Transitional Housing Program, to shelter thousands of people in the past few years. Jandl declined to say whether other consumer protection investigations related to the program are under way. Before 2020, about 250 households a year participated in the program. In 2022, more than 1,800 households were served, according to a DCF report to the legislature. ➆

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STATEHOUSE

Tax the Rich: Lawmakers Debate Possible New Tax Impacts

RACHEL HELLMAN

news City workers cleaning up the Battery Street encampment

Two bills that would raise taxes for Vermont’s wealthiest residents are being discussed in Montpelier. H.827 would add to the tax liability of people who have more than $10 million in assets. And H.828 would create a 3 percent personal income tax surcharge on income over $500,000. A large group of local organizations that includes the 13,000-strong teachers’ union Vermont-NEA is advocating for the bills, which were both sponsored by Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), chair of the taxwriting House Ways and Means Committee. The group, called Fund Vermont’s Future, says the measures would generate needed revenue and address growing inequality. “Our economy is not working for a lot of people in Vermont right now,” Anika Heilweil, the group’s campaign manager, told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. Heilweil, who works for the Public Assets Institute research organization, said that in 2022, median income, adjusted for inflation, fell for middle-income households. According to Public Assets, the top 1 percent of income tax filers in Vermont now make, on average, $1.4 million a year — or 20 times the average income of the other 99 percent, which is $69,000. The legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office has estimated that the 3 percent income surcharge would generate $71 million per year. The office hasn’t yet released a revenue estimate for the other measure, which would tax unrealized capital gains — assets that have appreciated but haven’t been sold. House Ways and Means Committee members have questioned whether raising taxes would prompt wealthier Vermonters to move to a lowertax state, such as Florida. Joyce Manchester, a senior economist at the Joint Fiscal Office, has testified that research shows people of retirement age and those living on investment income are more likely to relocate as a result of taxes. Heilweil disagrees. She said in an interview on Tuesday that high earners are more likely than the general population to own businesses that can’t easily be moved. ➆

DARIA BISHOP

B Y A NNE WAL L A C E ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

The shelter at the former Veterans of Foreign Wars building

Shelterless « P.18 providing cots to about 100 people over a three-day period. The city is prepared to do that again should it be necessary, Russell said, but there’s only enough room for about 130 people. That would still leave an estimated 100 people outside, with no place to go. “That’s unacceptable,” Russell said. With limited options, some people have resorted to living in tents. The city says it’s aware of roughly half a dozen active encampments. Most are hidden from public view, but one, located along the sidewalk on Battery Street, drew a lot of attention this winter as tents came to line the lakefront promenade. City ordinances ban camping in public parks, but officials said they waited to clear out the encampment until the overnight shelter at the VFW opened in mid-December. Two weeks ago, the city

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

finally moved to clear out most of the tents, saying at the time that it was working to find housing for the few people left behind. On Monday, city workers brought several vehicles to clear out the rest. One man guarded his friend’s belongings, which had been stuffed into plastic storage bins provided by the city. He said he wasn’t sure where his friend would sleep on Monday night. “I can’t believe they’re doing this,” said Rainbow Cornelia as she stopped to watch the scene while walking her dog. Cornelia lives in a subsidized apartment near Battery Street and said she complained to the city after the encampment was cleared the first time. “I wasn’t very polite,” she admitted. Seeing city workers there a second time renewed her anger. “Who are they hurting? What is the problem?” City officials have expressed their own frustrations over the state’s

response to the crisis. Earlier this month, Mayor Miro Weinberger, who has hinted at his own gubernatorial aspirations, wrote a memo to Gov. Phil Scott’s administration pleading for another extension to the motel program, which is set to expire in April. The city, with assistance from the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance, has already helped more than 150 households transition from the motels into permanent housing through the county’s “coordinated entry” system. With just two more months, the mayor asserted, the city would be able to find permanent housing for the 115 or so households still living in Chittenden County motels. Last week, the Vermont House voted to extend the program through June, which would give lawmakers more time to come up with a long-term solution. In search of a more immediate remedy, the Scott administration has proposed opening five new shelters statewide by April 1. But few believe that target date is realistic. Even if it were, officials acknowledge that the 225 or so new beds wouldn’t be enough to house everyone. Back at the VFW last Thursday afternoon, Davison was third in line, which meant he was likely to get a spot as long as he stayed put. That was a relief for someone who had been sleeping in a terminal at the Burlington International Airport and, before that, in the hallways of apartment buildings. Guzman, meanwhile, was holding out hope that she might eventually qualify for one of the shelter’s permanent beds. She wasn’t sure how long that might take or what she needed to do to make it happen. But she figured there was only one way to find out. “Just keep showing up,” she said. ➆

PRESENT

THE MAYORAL MATCHUP CANDIDATE DEBATE: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 6 P.M. FREE BURLINGTON CITY HALL AUDITORIUM

Who Will Be Burlington’s Next Mayor?

Have questions for the candidates?

Join Seven Days and Town Meeting TV for a free, in-person election forum with Burlington mayoral candidates.

Submit them in advance when you RSVP for this event.

The Progressive candidate, state Rep. Emma MulvaneyStanak, and City Councilor Joan Shannon, a Democrat, will get specific about their visions for the city. Sasha Goldstein of Seven Days will moderate this live, 90-minute event.

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Can’t make it in person? Watch live on Town Meeting TV’s cable channels (Comcast 1087 and Burlington Telecom 17 or 217) or stream it online at sevendaysvt.com. 1t-Mayor012424.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

1/23/24 5:06 PM

news Distress Signal « P.15

police commissioners questioned the use of the drug in the Austrian case, the department said it would track the racial identity of those it treated. But updated data provided to Seven Days on Tuesday did not include patients’ race. In an email, Fire Chief Mike LaChance said he’d look into it. Austrian’s lawsuit claims that paramedics broke state medical protocol by giving her son the drug. The 2020 Vermont Statewide Emergency Medical Services Protocols, reviewed by Seven Days, do not include guidelines for using the drug to restrain a minor. The lawsuit also alleges that first responders were ill prepared to help people with mental health challenges — SCREENSHOT

challenges manifested early in life. In the eighth grade — when the police encounter occurred — he was performing at a fourth-grade level. He’s been diagnosed with ADHD and “complex trauma,” the lawsuit says. Austrian said the police department knew about her son’s background when it sent two officers to her Old North End home one evening in May 2021. The teen, who is not named in the suit, had come home with several vape pens he’d stolen from a nearby convenience store. Wanting to teach her son a lesson, Austrian called the police. So did the store clerk, who told officers the boy had been carrying a hammer. Police had been to the Austrian home before and resolved conflicts peaceably. That May evening, Austrian told Officers Kelsey Johnson and Sergio Caldieri that her son recently had an MRI on his heart and had just increased his ADHD medication. She said he’d been acting as if he weren’t “based in reality.” Austrian had retrieved all but one vape pen, which the teen was clutching in his hands. Officers asked him repeatedly to turn it over and said he’d be arrested if he didn’t comply, but he ignored them and sat silently on the bed. After about 10 minutes, the officers strapped on black gloves and walked toward the teen, body camera footage shows. “I’m not playing this game anymore,” Officer Johnson said. A short time later, officers pushed the boy against the bed, grabbed the vape pen and stepped back, but he lashed out, flailing his arms, the suit says. Officer Caldieri, in a use-of-force report submitted afterward, said the teen punched him. The officers handcuffed the boy, pinning him to the floor on his stomach. He continued to struggle. “Instead of … decelerating and disengaging from the encounter, the two officers again responded with disproportionate force, treating the 14-year-old as if he were an imminent and serious danger to their person,” the filing says. The boy screamed and swore, almost hyperventilating. Fearing that her son might have a heart attack, Austrian asked a police sergeant who by then had arrived at her home to call Burlington Fire Department EMTs. “He can’t stand to be restrained,” Austrian told the sergeant. “It’s not fair to him; he’s 14. He needs some medical help. Please.” Paramedics arrived and placed a mesh “spit hood” over the teen’s head, causing him to thrash wildly. After consulting with a doctor, they injected the boy

with ketamine — a sedative used to calm agitated patients — and took him to the hospital. According to the suit, paramedics only told Austrian they’d give the boy “something to help him calm down” but didn’t specify ketamine. The teen was discharged the next day, “bruised, disoriented and traumatized by his experience,” the lawsuit says. Austrian later learned that the EMTs had diagnosed her son with “excited delirium,” a controversial syndrome characterized by aggressive behavior — and one that’s been denounced by medical experts, including the American Psychiatric Association. The syndrome, which is disproportionately applied to Black people, has been attributed

Authorities detaining the teen

TO USE INTENSE FORCE AGAINST AN UNARMED, PEACEFULLY SITTING CHILD WAS JUST AN EGREGIOUS VIOLATION OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. HILL ARY R IC H

to people who died or were injured in police custody. George Floyd was diagnosed with excited delirium. So was Elijah McClain, the Aurora, Colo., man who died after police forcibly restrained him and EMTs administered ketamine in 2019. Two paramedics and a police officer were convicted of criminally negligent homicide in McClain’s death. First responders in Aurora can no longer administer ketamine. Before the incident involving Austrian’s son, the Burlington Fire Department regularly recorded the age, but not the race, of people to whom its EMTs administered ketamine. Of 86 people dosed between 2016 and 2021, Austrian’s son was the youngest. After

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

and says police violated their own policies by failing to de-escalate the situation. Department directives on interacting with people with disabilities and “diminished capacities” instruct officers to give subjects physical space and to not “[rush] their response,” the suit says. The filing says police showed racial bias in dealing with the teen. Black boys are “misperceived as older, angrier and more threatening than their behavior warrants,” the lawsuit says. “Officers thus reacted to a child’s distress as if it were an adult’s rage.” The suit refers to previous allegations that Burlington police have used excessive force against Black people and those in mental health crisis. In 2013, police fatally shot Wayne Brunette, a mentally ill man who was brandishing a shovel. His parents, who had called police to help calm the situation, later received a settlement in a wrongful death suit. In 2016, police shot and killed Ralph “Phil” Grenon, a 76-year-old a man with schizophrenia, after an hours-long standoff, because he charged at officers with a knife. A state panel that reviewed the case concluded that officers didn’t consider how Grenon’s mental state affected his ability to comply with commands.

More recently, in spring 2019, the public learned that police had knocked two Black men unconscious during arrests the previous fall. Both of those men sued the department for excessive force, and last year the city paid $750,000 to settle one of those lawsuits. One of the officers involved left the department after receiving a $300,000 buyout. The other case is still pending in federal court. Hillary Rich, an attorney with the ACLU of Vermont, said officers “created a crisis” in the Austrian case. “To use intense force against an unarmed, peacefully sitting child was just an egregious violation of his constitutional rights and his sense of safety and well-being,” she said. “They [turned] a situation that could have and should have been resolved peacefully into a deeply traumatic event that has really betrayed this family.” Austrian said she’s suing in part to push for better police oversight. About a week after the incident, she filed a complaint with the city’s civilian Police Commission. Chief Jon Murad told her three weeks later that the officers used “appropriate” force and “did not violate any Department rules,” the lawsuit says. Commissioners, however, kept investigating, even hiring a lawyer to review the case. But their recommendations for how to handle the complaint were kept confidential, even from Austrian. The lack of transparency pushed Austrian last year to advocate for a ballot item that would have created an independent police oversight board with the ability to hire and fire officers, including the chief. The proposal was soundly defeated on Town Meeting Day in March 2023. City councilors promised to come up with an alternative, forming a special committee that, earlier this month, proposed a model that would give the Police Commission more power. The council had pledged to put the proposal on the ballot this March but instead sent it to the Police Commission for more review. The council will discuss it again in June. Austrian lamented that Burlington discussions about public safety have largely focused on rebuilding the diminished police force in the years since the council voted to reduce its size. She hopes that the lawsuit, and sharing her son’s story, will revive what she says are needed conversations about police accountability. “This should not have happened to my child. This should never happen to any other child,” Austrian said. “I can’t rest until I see this through.” ➆

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If we can get food and agriculture right in Vermont, we can get a lot right! Join us at the 42nd annual NOFA-VT Winter Conference to look upstream and address food system issues at their source with other farmers, gardeners, students, land stewards, homesteaders, policy-makers, activists, and educators.

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Sabina Barbara Evarts MAY 15, 1937JANUARY 22, 2024 SHELBURNE, VT.

Sabina Barbara (Sauter) Evarts, 86, of Shelburne, Vt., made her own life full by surrounding herself with people, art, conversation and lots of laughter. She loved to share both her knowledge and “well-informed” opinions on everything with everyone. She not only marched to the beat of a different drummer but also grabbed the drumsticks, crafted a new drum and wrote her own beat to live by. She passed away on January 22, 2024, from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Sabina was born on May 15, 1937, to Sophie and John Sauter in Springfield, Vt., the oldest of three sisters. A passionate lifelong learner, Sabina first attended Cathedral High School in Burlington, Vt., and ultimately graduated from Vergennes Union High School. In preparation for taking religious vows, she was a novice at Mount St. Mary’s Abbey before becoming a mother. She attended Trinity College and earned a degree at Christopher Newport College. Sabina was selftaught in many disciplines, allowing her to manifest a life for herself that was filled with everything she was interested in and become a teacher

to many over the years. She impacted so many by sharing her knowledge of psychology, English, sewing, visual arts, crafting, Reiki and, later, the art of teaching Reiki. Sabina married Lloyd F. Evarts in 1959 and had three children. The family traveled all over the world together and created amazing memories as they camped and explored local cultures, making a home together in White Sands, Nuremberg, Greencastle, South Burlington, Göppingen, Newport News, Warner Robins,

IN MEMORIAM

Celeste Bartoletti Hahn 1925-2023

We remember how cold it was the day we said goodbye to you, dear mother. But our hearts are warmed as we recall your smile, your keen mind and your great sense of humor.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Ferrisburgh and, finally, Shelburne. As time went on, their house in Shelburne became a home for thousands of books, a teapot collection, rocks, gems, Hummel figurines, remarkably unique jewelry, an ever-expanding supply of fabric scraps and notions, and enough art and supplies to warrant the use of two bedrooms. They shuddered at the mere idea of minimalism. She treasured beauty and found it often and in unlikely places. The things she enjoyed were

displayed as the treasures she knew them to be. A poster with beautiful lines next to signed original art. A one-of-akind papier-mâché vase made by a grandchild next to a shiny stuffed Beanie Baby. Her love of the arts was as deep as it was varied. She was an avid reader, causing her husband to start using eBay to keep up with her book-buying habit. Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, Marion Zimmer Bradley, E.E. Cummings, L. Frank Baum, Rumi and Maya Angelou were all on her bookshelf, with soft spines and notes in the margins, filled with scrap papers memorializing her thoughts throughout. She loved to write short stories about elves in the eaves and poetry about her mother, and she filled journals with musings written in her indecipherable (even to her) script. The music of Miles Davis, George Gershwin, Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Loreena McKennitt, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and so many others filled her home. She sang along with great enthusiasm — sometimes with the right words and in the right key, but often not. It was simply about experiencing the joy of the music. Sometimes this happened by dancing along in the kitchen, sometimes by humming a verse over and over or through deep, focused listening while working on mandala art. Her visual artistry was legendary. Her sewing skills were phenomenal, and she ran in the craft fair circuit for a number of years making quilted vests and coats — before it was cool. In the ’90s, she worked

Gregory Wayne Brooks

JULY 23, 1960DECEMBER 30, 2023 ESTES PARK, COLO. Gregory Wayne Brooks passed away on December 30, 2023, in Estes Park, Colo. He was born on July 23, 1960, in Englewood, Colo. He lived in the Denver area from 1968 to 1987. Gregory touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed by all who loved him. In his memory, let us honor

his legacy by cherishing the beauty of nature, teaching

with Arts Alive to increase awareness and appreciation for Vermont’s visual artists, especially through her time volunteering at the Arts Alive Fine Arts Festival in the summers. She dabbled in many mediums, and you can track her various artistic phases through those mediums and her subjects. There were watercolors of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, oil pastels of flower fields in Addison County, line drawings of her grandchildren, expressive ink and watercolor mood drawings inspired by Asian art, charcoal chiaroscuros of buildings and shapes, Sculpey beads, oil on wood images of strong female characters, wire jewelry, fine line drawings of individual flowers in vases, mandalas in various mediums, found-object collage, and even-larger-thanlife watercolor representations of her favorite characters from The Wizard of Oz. Her art was unique, and for many years a small fairy or dragons could be found hiding in almost all of it. She adored working on art with her grandchildren and taught them that there weren’t “mistakes” in art, just happy accidents. Sabina discovered Reiki later in life and became a Usui Satori Reiki master teacher. She found comfort in the meditative, healing practice of Reiki and relished the opportunity to share that as a teacher. Her interest in Reiki, meditation and Buddhism led to a desire to know more about all types of Eastern art and culture. In the early 2000s, she traveled to China twice, including to the Potala

Palace in Tibet during one of her trips. The life led by Sabina was an amazing journey of unrestrained curiosity and creativity, far more than the sum of its parts. She was a loving and adoring wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend. Sabina invested in happiness and built a life filled with joys of her own making. Her legacy will live on in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the hundreds of people who called her a friend and teacher. She believed in beauty, in nature and in loving kindness. In the words of Rumi:

children, extending a helping hand, and cooking and sharing many, many meals with others. He is survived by his children, Justin Brooks of Palm Harbor, Fla., Taylor Brooks, and Somer Brooks of North Port, Fla., and his wife, Jeannie Brooks, of North Port; his mother, Mariann Grimm of Hagerstown, Md.; his father, James Brooks, and stepmother, Carol, of Shelburne, Vt.; sister Deborah Brooks and her spouse, Mark Ferguson, of

Huntingtown, Md.; brother Scott Brooks and his spouse, Susan, of St. George, Vt.; nephew Tyler Brooks of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and beloved friends of past and present: Kim Brooks, mother of Justin, of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Linda Mitchell of Estes Park, Colo. For further information, remembrance services and a GoFundMe account, visit viegutfuneralhome.com/ tribute/details/327591/ Gregory-Brooks/obituary. html.

don’t cry for my leaving i’m not leaving i’m arriving at eternal love She is survived by her husband, Lloyd; her children, David (Lisa C.) Evarts, Patricia Evarts and John (Lisa V.) Evarts; her younger sisters, Mary Ann Broughton and Andrea Shattuck; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests the following: Plant flowers. Make weird art. Buy weird art. Listen to music that is new to you. Support local and new musicians, artists and writers. Wear your brightest colors and most bold jewelry. Kurwa mać! Swear in other languages to get a rise out of someone, and eat ice cream for dinner. They insist that you live joyfully, like Sabina. A celebration of Sabina’s life will be held on February 3, 2024, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Ferrisburgh Grange Hall.

Pauline Coates

early married years were spent at Saint Michael’s College, where Mike pursued his degree and where she paid the rent and completed the French homework. Like every task that lay ahead for them, college was a team effort. They raised their five children in a lively house in Brandon, where she ran

a tight ship. We came together every night around the family dinner table with home-cooked meals and spirited conversation that provided daily grounding in family. She took pride in a tidy house, flower gardens and the high shine of her children’s Easter shoes. Even while working full time as a secretary for the Brandon schools, she was always present for her children by attending their school events, bringing them for picnics at Lake Dunmore and catching up before dinner in the kitchen. Polly offered kindness freely and often to people who needed it the most. She welcomed families new to town, made connections with international students during her years working at Saint Michael’s

College, offered kindness to friends of her children and grandchildren, and always smiled at a passerby. She was a dedicated volunteer for the American Red Cross in Burlington and served on the welcoming committee in her residential community. Mom loved her children deeply and took great pride in their accomplishments. Even when we fell short, her support and encouragement were unconditional. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, delighting in their every milestone and uniqueness. She is survived by her children Carlene, Robert, Timothy (Lori), John and Patricia (Michael Carrese); her sister Geneviève; grandchildren Tyler, Katherine, Anne, Benjamin, Samantha, Colin, Sarah, Madeleine and Maria; six

great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Mike Coates; her infant son Michael; her parents; four siblings; her dearly loved sons-in law Arthur D. Rhea and Russell Fellows; and many lifelong friends. Services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 11 a.m., at St. Pius X Church, 20 Jericho Rd., Essex Junction, VT. The service can be streamed at essexcatholic. vermontcatholic.org/livestream-button. A reception will follow mass in the parish hall. A springtime interment will occur at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph. In lieu of flowers, gifts to the Vermont Foodbank (vtfoodbank.org), a favorite charity of Pauline’s, are very much appreciated.

Vt., in 1985. It was there that he met his wife, Gail Trombly Companion, and they were married on May 31, 1997. Leonard was an accomplished guitarist and for several years played guitar and sang with the band

Blue Mountain Bluegrass in the Stevens Point area and beyond. Blue Mountain Bluegrass was active from 1977 to 1983. The other band members were Pete Anderson, Gary Bartig, Don Zeke LaChappelle, Jed Malischke, Steve Nieland, Andy Schoofs and Art Stevenson. Leonard retired from Chittenden Bank after 37 years. He enjoyed playing guitar, reading, and watching and rooting for his favorite NFL team, the Green Bay Packers. Most of his time was spent enjoying life with his wife, Gail, and his family and grandchildren. He is survived by Gail Companion Halvorson; his

daughter, Melinda Young, and her husband, Adam; his stepson, Joe Companion, and his wife, Danielle; and his five grandchildren, Zachary Young, Thomas Young, Alex Companion, Jack Companion and Emma Companion. He has a brother and four sisters, all of whom live in Wisconsin: Lawrence Halvorson (Dalpha) of Spirit, Margit Williams (Alfred) of Appleton, Kristina White of Appleton, Dorothy Plantz (Greg) of Colfax and Deborah Hallas of Birnamwood. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Leonard was preceded in death by his father and

mother; his brothers George Halvorson Jr. and David Halvorson; his sisters Joy Ann Halvorson, Penelope Halvorson and Rebecca Halvorson; and his grandfathers and grandmothers, Leonard and Nora Evans Meier, and Halvor and Mary Ewen Halvorson. Visiting hours will take place on Wednesday, January 31, 4 to 6 p.m., at Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Heart Association at heart.org. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Bernard graduated from St. Anthony’s Grammar School in Burlington, Vt.,

and Mount Assumption Institute in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He graduated from Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., and the Potomac School of Law in Washington, D.C. He was a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the District of Columbia Bar. He was in private practice in Washington, D.C., for many years before retiring to Florida. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his infant brother, Gabriel; his sister Georgette Thabault; his best friend of many years,

James R. Freeman; and his special friend Damian A. Gingerich. He is survived by his sisters Susie Pisanelli (Dr. Victor Pisanelli) of Rutland, Vt.; Isabelle Thabault of Washington, D.C.; Paulette Thabault (Dr. Peter Gunther) of South Burlington, Vt.; Denise Thabault of West Rotunda, Fla.; Dr. Noelle Thabault of Williston, Vt.; and Bridget Thabault and Patrice Thabault, both of Burlington, Vt. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.

There will be no viewing. A memorial service will be held at a later time at All Saints Mission in Oakland Park, Fla., with the Reverend Bobby Cauhill officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Mission, 3460 Powerline Rd., Oakland Park, FL 33309 or allsaintsmission.org, for the benefit of its soup kitchen. Arrangements will be handled by Falowski Kalis Mcintee Funeral & Cremation Services (barbarafalowski.com) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

APRIL 2, 1932JANUARY 27, 2024 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Charles Joseph Cobb OCTOBER 11, 1992JANUARY 23, 2024 ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the unexpected death of Charles Joseph Cobb on January 23, 2024, due to complications related to his health. He was born on October 11, 1992, to his parents, David Charles Cobb and Elizabeth Ann Wark Cobb. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Dr. Joseph and Ellen Wark and Charles and Barbara Cobb. He was also predeceased by five of his close friends: Hunter, Bryant, Derek, Scott and Brian. Charlie had a heart of gold and will be missed for his wisdom, conversation, jokes, music and athleticism. For many years, his dream was to become a professional poker player, but he had recently found a new calling. He aspired to continue his work in the medical field, as he very much enjoyed helping patients and working in the operating room at the University of Vermont Medical Center. He is survived by his parents and his beloved brother and best friend, Tucker Cobb. He is also survived by his uncle and aunt David and Debbie Wark and cousins Tyler and Nathan Wark; and by his uncle and aunt Joe and Lisa Wark and cousins Megan, Lindsay and Holly Wark. He leaves behind many friends and colleagues with whom he has built relationships over the years. There will be a celebration of life for Charlie at the Elks Lodge, 925 North Ave., Burlington, VT, on Saturday, February 3, 2024, 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or Bridgton Academy (bridgtonacademy.org).

Pauline (Giroux) Coates of South Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024, surrounded by her five children and expressing gratitude for the many blessings of her life. Pauline was born in St. Albans Town, grew up in Graniteville and never left her beloved Vermont. She excelled at Catholic schools in Barre, Newport and Montpelier and carried the teachings of charity and humility throughout her life. She met the love of her life, Carlisle J. “Mike” Coates, at St. Michael’s High School in Montpelier, and they married shortly after his return from Korea. Their

Leonard Lee Halvorson

SEPTEMBER 5, 1956JANUARY 23, 2024 COLCHESTER, VT. Leonard Lee Halvorson, 67, of Colchester, passed away on January 23, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center, following a long illness. He was born on September 5, 1956, in Phillips, Wis., the son of George Sr. and Goldie Meier Halvorson. He graduated from Phillips High School, class of 1975, and attended the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point. He moved to Burlington,

Bernard Thomas Thabault

DECEMBER 14, 1951JANUARY 25, 2024 POMPANO BEACH, FLA. Bernard Thomas Thabault, a longtime resident of Pompano Beach, Fla., died on January 25, 2024. He was 72 years old. Bernard was born on December 14, 1951, in Colchester, Vt., to the late Dr. Wilfred Thabault and Doris A. McNamara Thabault.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

LUKE AWTRY

NOAH’S ARC Strafford songwriter Noah Kahan is Vermont’s biggest pop culture export in years. How the hell did that happen? BY C H R IS FAR NS W O R TH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

Noah Kahan performing at Burlington’s Waterfront Park last July

n a Friday a little over a week before Christmas, TV crews hauling camera gear hurried down a corridor of the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. Behind them, clusters of nurses, doctors and assorted administrators trailed like giddy schoolchildren. Someone in a giant white coffee cup costume emblazoned with a Dunkin’ logo ambled past, and a nearby woman in sky-blue scrubs watching the scene unfold whispered in awe: “That’s Cuppy.” Deeper within the hospital, an expectant crowd gathered in a wide hallway. Excited hubbub gave way to uneasy silence as a 26

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

procession came into view, with a collection of aides and hospital staff flanking a bearded man as if he were a head of state. “Oh, my God, it’s him,” someone muttered, and they weren’t talking about Cuppy. Noah Kahan, singer-songwriter, TikTok sensation, recent Grammy Award nominee and current avatar of all things Vermont, strode forth from his scrum of handlers. Acoustic guitar in hand, he moved toward a cluster of young patients, who were waiting for the state’s biggest cultural export since Bernie Sanders to play them a song. Sporting long brown hair tucked under a black

Dunkin’ baseball cap and a wry, almost nervous grin behind his beard, Kahan looked every bit the New England troubadour whose likeness, as of late, has been everywhere from the New York Times to GQ. He’s usually pictured in a parka or flannel, leaning against a farmyard fence or standing near a copse of trees under a gray sky — or any sort of background an editor might dub “Vermonty.” Kahan is often looking at the camera ominously, as if trying to stare through your soul. At the Children’s Hospital, he breezed through a kid-friendly version of his hit song “Stick Season,” swapping out lyrics about alcohol and

LUKE AWTRY

Kahan is far from the first bearded white man to write sad music, nor does he have some sort of monopoly on bonding with fans through shared pain. What he is, however, is a perfect storm of songwriting savvy and extreme relatability that has spawned one of the biggest musical breakouts the Green Mountain State has ever seen. “Noah’s music speaks to experiencing joy amidst grief,” Mariah Noth said. The 28-year-old Grand Isle native has been a Kahan fan since his 2019 debut, Busyhead. A card-carrying “Busyhead” — that’s what Kahan’s fans call themselves — she’s seen him play everywhere from Vermont coffeehouses to arenas. Kahan’s rise reveals a paradox: The more confessional and vulnerable about his mental health Kahan has become, the stronger and more devoted his audience has grown. And when he stopped chasing pop stardom and returned to the folk and Americana influences of his youth, stardom found him.

Growing Sideways Fans cheering Kahan at Waterfront Park

Kahan with fans at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital

Noah’s music speaks to experiencing joy amidst grief. MARIAH N O TH

smoking weed with “apple juice” and “climbing trees.” A paean to Vermont and the bleak transitional period between fall and winter, the song has turned Kahan into a global star — though you might not have guessed that he’s famous, based on the reaction from the kids in the audience. Few seemed to know who he was, and most were more interested in Cuppy and Monty, the hospital’s breakdancing moose mascot. The adults, however, were a different story. Men and women in hospital scrubs and officials in business attire fawned and

swooned, recording his performance on cellphones, grinning wildly and singing along. Some swayed and half-danced while standing still. At first, the 27-year-old singer seemed anxious and out of place. Perhaps the intimate and unconventional venue threw him off; these days, he’s more used to playing arenas full of screaming fans than a corridor of nonplussed children. Six months earlier, in late July, Kahan had played one of pop music’s great cathedrals, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. The show served as a benefit for flood-relief efforts in Vermont, following the devastating storm here earlier that month. Onstage, Kahan wore a denim jacket. Screen-printed on the back was a white steepled church and the name of the Upper Valley town in Vermont where he grew up: Strafford. Red Rocks was one of dozens of soldout shows on his 2023 Stick Season tour, which included a stop at Burlington’s

Waterfront Park. That was likely the last time he’ll play in Vermont for a while, since there simply isn’t a venue big enough to accommodate the crowds he now draws. Up for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards this Sunday, February 4, Kahan has become a pop music phenomenon. He was a teen songwriting prodigy who signed a record deal at 17. He then spent years in Nashville, New York City and Los Angeles trying to launch a career. He found modest success as a pop singer, building a following on social media and TikTok in particular. While stuck in Vermont during the pandemic, he began writing his 2022 breakout album, Stick Season. The title track became a TikTok sensation, sparking an upward trajectory that hasn’t slowed since. Along the way, he’s cultivated a fan base reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s in its dedication and willingness to shell out gobs of money to see him perform in the kind of venues he dreamed of playing as a kid. Tickets for his Fenway Park shows in July currently range from around $900 to more than $8,000. His massive audiences are heavily populated by Gen Z fans who will scream his lyrics back to him, often through tears. These aren’t just the “Oh, my God, a famous person!” sort of tears but the “group therapy bordering on mass religious experience” kind.

When Kahan last spoke with Seven Days, in 2022, Stick Season had only been out for about 48 hours. Over a Zoom chat from his apartment in Watertown, Mass., Kahan expressed trepidation about how his new album would be received. The song “Stick Season” had already lit up TikTok and Spotify, but the album itself was something of a gamble for the songwriter. His label, Republic Records, wasn’t sold on his transition from indie pop to New England folk singer, and Kahan really, really didn’t want to lose that record deal. It’s safe to say his plan worked out. Stick Season has catapulted Kahan to the upper echelons of music stardom. The title track hit No. 1 on the Billboard rock and alternative charts and recently topped the charts in the United Kingdom. In 2023 alone, he amassed 1.4 billion streams of his music on Spotify and released an expanded edition of Stick Season (with the added tagline We’ll All Be Here Forever), featuring remixes and duets with pop stars Post Malone, Kacey Musgraves and Zach Bryan, to name a few. Kahan closed out the year with a performance on “Saturday Night Live” and the Grammy nomination. His people were no longer reaching out to Seven Days for coverage but instead replying to interview requests with, essentially: Um, maybe in the summer? Kahan, who toured overseas this month but will be stateside for the Grammys before continuing his tour in Europe, declined to be interviewed for this story. NOAH’S ARC

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From the outside, Kahan appears to be an overnight success. It’s one of the few bits of criticism lobbed his way by locals: He didn’t actually “pay his dues” by slogging it across the stage at Nectar’s in Burlington or playing lovable dives like Charlie-O’s World Famous in Montpelier. “Anybody who thinks Noah took the easy way doesn’t know him,” said Robert Grabill, Kahan’s soccer coach at Hanover High School in Hanover, N.H., not far from the Vermont state line and Strafford. Now both a friend and fan of Kahan, Grabill stays in touch with his former player, who returns to his alma mater every Thanksgiving to play in an alumni soccer match. Kahan’s father, Josh, an information technology specialist, taught his son to play guitar; his mother, Lauri Berkenkamp, a best-selling children’s author, helped foster his love of writing. Kahan was penning his own songs by the age of 8, and by the time he was in high school, he was ready to record them. So he reached out to local music producer and former Hanover High student Nate Choukas, who had a home studio nearby. “Noah was a few years behind me at school when we met,” Choukas recalled by phone from Arizona, where he’s currently a graduate student. “Even then, he was so driven and talented. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as soon as he started playing the songs he wrote, I was like, This is actually really good. This is a real songwriter.” With Choukas’ help, Kahan released his singles on the streaming site SoundCloud. He attracted thousands of listeners, far more attention that he’d gotten from playing Hanover coffee shops and student talent shows. Among his listeners was music agent and Foundations Artist Management partner Drew Simmons, who was managing the indie-rock band Young the Giant at the time. After hearing Kahan’s single “Sink” on SoundCloud, Simmons set the gears in motion for him to join Republic Records in 2015. Kahan received the text that he’d been signed while he was walking to soccer practice, Grabill recalled. “We all knew it was what he wanted and had worked so hard on,” he said. With his dream of being a recording artist in sight, Kahan decided against attending Louisiana’s Tulane University after high school and set out instead for Nashville, then New York City and Los Angeles, where he recorded Busyhead. But when the pandemic struck, Kahan retreated to his childhood home in Strafford. 28

COURTESY OF WILL HEATH/NBC/GETTY IMAGES

NOAH’S ARC «

Noah Kahan on “Saturday Night Live”

While there, he recorded a strippeddown EP, Cape Elizabeth, with Choukas’ younger brother, Phin, in the same Hanover home studio. He then headed to LA and released his second album, 2021’s I Was/I Am, another pop-leaning record. The following year, Kahan returned home and wrote the majority of Stick Season in the barn his father built. “When I left Vermont, I was an immature kid,” Kahan told Seven Days in 2022. “I was always trying to get out. After living in Nashville and New York and moving all over the palace, I started to rethink that. And by the time I started writing songs [for Stick Season], I was feeling this pull back to those places and feelings. And, musically, that meant returning to the styles I grew up loving.”

New Perspective

Before the success of Stick Season, Kahan had his first mini-breakthrough with his 2019 hit “Hurt Somebody,” a duet with pop singer Julia Michaels. It’s a slick, professional-sounding recording, tailor-made for radio play and Spotify-sponsored indie-pop playlists. While overtly poppy, it also offered hints of what was to come. The prevalent acoustic guitar and emotive, almost contrite lyrics are all there, and there’s nothing disingenuous or flimsy about the catchy melody and Kahan and Michaels’ call-andresponse verses. Busyhead also revealed a writer unafraid to document his struggles, particularly on the title track. Kahan has said in interviews that he wrote the tune about getting arrested for smoking weed a few times in high school. His misadventures landed him with a therapist,

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Kahan and Robert Grabill

I was writing music that I wouldn’t listen to. N O A H KAHAN

who labeled the roguish teen a “busy head.” “I thought that kind of embodied how I feel I am,” Kahan told Atwood Magazine in 2019. “I like the idea of Busyhead representing anxiety, deep thought, perspective, and stuff like that.” Despite showing glimpses of the songwriter Kahan would grow into, Busyhead and I Was/I Am are essentially pop records, written by a songwriter swinging for the fences of mass appeal. Another hit off his debut, “Youngblood,” features an R&B-flavored, falsetto-heavy chorus with a pounding beat full of anthemic swagger. By the time Kahan released I Was/I Am, a critical and commercial step down from Busyhead, he was tired of trying to write hits. “I was writing music that I wouldn’t listen to,” he said in an interview with Boston magazine. Not long after writing what he described to Seven Days as “another fucking pop song,” Kahan returned to Strafford with a mission: to get to the true nature of his songwriting. “I cowrite a lot of the pop songs I do,” he said in the same interview. “So I wanted to compose something that was

just uniquely my own. And it became the genesis of the whole record.” The change is immediately apparent on Stick Season. “Northern Attitude” kicks off the record, full of ferocious melancholy and strident vocals. It’s clear Kahan has made up his mind to let you know where he comes from, figuratively and literally. “If I get too close and I’m not how you hoped / Forgive my northern attitude/ Oh, I was raised out in the cold,” Kahan belts out in the chorus, hewing closer to the Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold than the indie pop of say, Dean Lewis, one of Kahan’s early collaborators. “If the sun don’t rise ’til the summertime / Forgive my northern attitude / Oh, I was raised on little light.” Few topics are off-limits on the record. Kahan’s parents divorced during the pandemic, and the pain of their split surfaces on Stick Season. In “Growing Sideways,” he sings, “I’m still angry at my parents for what their parents did to them.” “His earlier music is good,” insisted Noth, the 28-year-old Busyhead. “It’s catchy, and there’s a lot to love. But with Stick Season — which is such a good crier — you get the feeling you’re getting to know him and understand that Vermont connection.” An album suffused with longing, homesickness and the emotional whirlwind of nostalgia, Stick Season has become a tribute to Vermont like few records before. In her review of the album, Seven Days contributing writer Margaret Grayson pinpointed the aggressive New Englandness of the aesthetic. “The album’s pop-folk sound feels suited for a casual gathering of close friends who’ve piled their Blundstones at the door,” she wrote, likely causing many a Vermonter to feel seen. Stick Season both vindicated Kahan’s desire to ditch his pop persona and, for better or worse, turned him into Captain Vermont.

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The View Between Villages The fact that Kahan has traded on a specific kind of “Vermontiness” as part of his brand has elicited some skepticism in his home state. Even at her peak, Grace Potter never hawked anything like Kahan’s $45, Nashville-made “Stick Season” candle. Phish lent their name to Phish Food ice cream, but at least that was made by Ben & Jerry’s; Kahan’s Northern Attitude IPA is produced by Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut — though, like Phish Food, the proceeds from its sale go to charity. As Kahan has ascended, some local musicians have wondered why this songwriter, who, from their perspective, went from obscurity to stardom practically overnight, was making such a big fuss about Vermont. “Honestly, when I first started to hear about him, I assumed he just had some kind of connections in the industry or something,” recalled Marcie Hernandez, a Burlington-based singer-songwriter and certified music therapist. “I’d never seen or heard of him playing anywhere near here, and he was, like, selling out multiple nights at Higher Ground all of a sudden.” Others questioned Kahan’s authenticity. “Initially, I felt like part of his brand was talking about his whole life, like, ‘I was playing coffee shops and struggling,’ and I’m like … Dude, you were signed when you were 17 and put out two pop albums. That’s

Noah Kahan fans at the Burlington waterfront

not really the same thing,” said producer and musician Dan Rome of Future Fields studios in Burlington. “It felt like he was leaning into the whole ‘everyman’ sort of thing.” Rome changed his tune after Kahan recorded some vocals for Stick Season at Future Fields. “He’s just such a normal, very downto-earth guy. It’s not an act,” Rome said. “The way he approaches music and guitar is normal, but he’s an absolute monster of a songwriter and has this ability to connect with the people who listen to his music.

He’s not arrogant, but he is confident in his abilities as a songwriter, and that’s a great combination.” Noth’s connection to Kahan’s music has less to do with where he’s from than the emotional resonance of his lyrics, she said, and the catharsis they deliver. “It makes a lot of sense to me why so many Gen Z and millennials have taken to his music,” she said, citing a global pandemic, income inequality and an increasingly polarized political landscape as reasons Kahan’s music has such broad appeal.

“As a culture, happiness is what we’re sold on,” Noth went on. “But you just can’t make yourself happy, and I think his music speaks to being kind of torn apart by that.”

No Complaints

Right after actor Emma Stone introduced Kahan on “SNL,” on December 2, he launched into his hit “Dial Drunk.” His band of similarly dressed (let’s call it “Bushwick kids on a hike” chic) white dudes with banjos and guitars conjured unpleasantly retro vibes for some critics.

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He’s not arrogant, but he is confident in his abilities as a songwriter, and that’s a great combination. D A N ROME

In a piece for Vox, writer and Burlington native Rebecca Jennings asked the uncomfortable question: “Are we ready for the return of ‘Stomp Clap Hey’ music?” The term, not particularly loved among Busyheads, is the derisive label given to a certain genre of folky pop music, embodied by groups like Mumford & Sons and the Lumineers, which peaked in popularity around 10 years ago — and, as Jennings pointed out in her piece, fits Kahan’s sound a little too snugly. “Stomp Clap Hey” music isn’t “something that only existed in 2011 and went away forever,” Jennings wrote. “It is, in fact, back. This is thanks to essentially one man … Noah Kahan.” Sydney Brasil, writing for Canadian culture magazine Exclaim!, went even harder on Kahan when she reviewed his duet with Irish singer Hozier on “Northern Attitude.” “The song serves acoustic soft-boy realness alongside a heaping dollop of that vaguely earthy I-live-in-a-small-cabinin-the-forest folk epidemic that spread a decade ago,” she wrote. She eviscerated both the song and Kahan’s fan base, calling them “the hip Evangelist kiddos that

get hitched after six months because they won’t do it before marriage.” Savage, maybe. But to his credit, Kahan doesn’t hide from that critique — he embraces it. He’s maintained, in multiple interviews, that those same bands inspired him when he was younger. In fact, he performed with the Lumineers’ Wesley Schultz and Mumford & Sons in the past year. “I certainly don’t see what I’m doing as carrying the torch, but I guess in some ways I’m just trying to feel the same way I felt watching Mumford & Sons’ Live at Red Rocks or watching the Lumineers,” he said in an October interview with GQ. “I am trying to create that because it made me so happy to see that as a kid.” And to many of his fans, labels are immaterial. “I tend to adhere to what Duke Ellington said,” said poet and former Vermont Public jazz host Reuben Jackson, a bigtime Kahan fan. “He said, ‘There are two types of music: good music and the other kind.’ Stuff either hits you or it doesn’t, and

Noah’s is the good stuff. For me, the genre has nothing to do with it.” Negative criticism doesn’t seem to hold much sway over Kahan, anyway. In November, the singer posted on X (formerly Twitter) after catching some critical blowback. “I have stumbled on a very negative review of my album and have decided to cope with my hurt feelings,” Kahan posted. “I’m going to play 55 sold out shows.”

Your Needs, My Needs

Standing in front of a sold-out crowd at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall in August, his long hair pulled back in a ponytail with a red guitar slung across his shoulder, Kahan peered out into the audience. At most rock concerts, this

would be the moment to get the already screaming crowd even more pumped up, maybe even letting slip that old cliché: “Are you ready to rock?!” Instead, Kahan talked to the audience about therapy and how it saved his life. As seen in fan-shot YouTube videos of the show, he encouraged “even the happiest person” to see a therapist. Kahan’s focus on mental health, and his openness about his own tribulations, have become a cornerstone of his newfound celebrity. He wrote an op-ed for Time magazine, titled “Putting Words to My Mental Health Struggles Saved Me.” “Allowing myself to understand I was suffering from something so common — even if it’s rarely discussed — provided a small light at the end of the tunnel,” wrote Kahan, who has spoken publicly about his struggles with depression, depersonalization and anxiety. “I was fighting an illness, and I was not alone.” Kahan’s nonprofit, the Busyhead Project, aims to help lowerincome people get access to mental health treatment and has raised over $2 million for the cause. “To see someone like him talk about therapy is really amazing,” said Hernandez, the songwriter and music therapist. “Especially from a straight, white man, it

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really helps to normalize what is sadly still a stigma among many men.” Hernandez believes that music is a perfect way to talk about trauma in an indirect, nonthreatening fashion. “I can see a songwriter who has the courage to be open and vulnerable, creating a great point of connection for people,” she added. “I’ll be frank: I’m a clinically depressed individual,” Jackson said by phone from Washington, D.C., where’s he’s lived since leaving Vermont in 2016. A renowned poet and jazz scholar, Jackson conceded he isn’t the typical Busyhead: “I may be a Black man who is pushing 70, but I latched right on to those lyrics.” “One of the hallmarks of great artists is whether or not you believe what they’re singing about,” he continued. “And I believe him. I can feel the soul and sincerity in his music, and especially in his lyrics.” There is something to those lyrics. It’s not like Kahan has some special license for singing about sadness and pain — just ask Thom Yorke or Frank Ocean or Fiona Apple. “The way he writes lyrics, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Phin Choukas said. While watching Kahan write and record Cape Elizabeth, Choukas was blown away by how Kahan would furiously type ideas into his phone or scribble then down into a notebook. “He just knows how to use his words to achieve so much emotional transference.” Rome has seen firsthand the effect of Kahan’s words. Not long before he had his session with Kahan for Stick Season, Rome, who lives in Essex Junction, played the title track for his neighbor. “He’s sort of a good ol’ boy from Vermont, this guy, but I know he’s had a tough go of it sometimes,” Rome explained. After the first verse, Rome noticed his neighbor was in tears. Soon, he begged him to turn the song off. “He couldn’t handle how much it made him feel,” Rome recalled. “That was the first time I saw what Noah’s lyrics can do.”

Noah Kahan

I can see a songwriter who has the courage to be open and vulnerable, creating a great point of connection for people. MAR C IE H E R NANDEZ LUKE AWTRY

NOAH’S ARC «

You’re Gonna Go Far

It might sound strange to say, but it doesn’t really matter whether Kahan wins a Grammy on Sunday. For one, Best New Artist winners have a checkered history — hi, Milli Vanilli. For another, Kahan’s popularity has probably already eclipsed any Grammy bump he might see. From selling out venues on every corner of the Earth to scoring a No. 1 record in the U.S. and UK, he’s successfully spread Stick Season around the globe. 32

Kahan performing at Burlington’s Waterfront Park last July

“Noah has this strength derived from being himself,” said Grabill, Kahan’s soccer coach. “Whether he was blowing up or not, he’d still be the same person writing great music, and I don’t think you could say that about other people in his position.”

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Back at the UVM Children’s Hospital, Dr. Lewis First can attest that success has only seemed to bring Kahan’s true nature to the fore. The hospital’s chief of pediatrics introduced Kahan before his performance in December.

“The way he advocates for mental health is exactly what we need artists to do,” First said. “It’s the same thing we do here at the hospital: We try to remove the stigma around mental health.” In that respect, he said, Kahan is the real deal. “Most people there that day saw a pop star show up and play a song,” First said. “But he went so far above and beyond that.” Long after his scheduled hour at the hospital had ended, Kahan and First headed deeper into the pediatric unit, and Kahan proceeded to play a song for each child patient in isolation from outside the rooms. First said some of the families didn’t know who Kahan was, but they were still moved to tears that he had taken the time to play for their children. “There were no cameras around, no reporters,” First said. “This was him, playing music for people he considered his own.” ➆

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Michael Krasnow

Doing Good Turns Michael Krasnow has spent decades giving kids skis, snowboards and a taste of independence B Y KEN PIC AR D • ken@sevendaysvt.com

n a bustling hallway in Charlotte Central School on a recent weeknight, Michael Krasnow put a sixth grader into a clunky ski boot and tested his ski bindings to make sure they were set properly. Many ski shops set their bindings based solely on the skier’s height and weight. But Krasnow, Charlotte’s volunteer ski-and-ride coordinator and a trained ski mechanic, has every child click into their bindings and perform a swift, karatelike knee kick while he stands on the ski. “I want to make sure it releases when it needs to,” he explained, adjusting the binding with a screwdriver. “It’s not brain surgery. I can tell just from the sound whether it’s the right setting.” As Krasnow listened for the signature snap, more than a dozen kids and their parents waited for his attention. Some were swapping out borrowed gear from last winter; others were getting outfitted for the first time. Many pawed through the jumble of secondhand skis, snowboards, boots, helmets and poles available to borrow. Those who couldn’t find what they needed in the hall raided a cluttered equipment room, ripe with the locker-room funk of past winters’ youthful exuberance and bunny hill flop sweat. For parents who still 34

come up empty-handed, Krasnow keeps another stockpile of gear at his house, on nearby Mount Philo. Krasnow, 71, is a serial community volunteer and a Charlotte institution of sorts. An elected justice of the peace for 27 years, he chairs the Board of Civil Authority, which hears tax abatement cases and helps the town clerk run elections. He serves on the boards of multiple local businesses and nonprofits. And for 30 years, Krasnow has presided over this annual winter rite of putting Charlotte schoolchildren on skis and snowboards — the largest single-school ski-and-ride program in the state. His goal hasn’t changed since he took over the fledgling program in the 1990s: to make the sport he loves accessible to everyone. In an era when a family of four can easily drop $600 to $800 for a day on the slopes, Krasnow hopes to make Vermont’s iconic winter pastime a little more affordable — and, in the process, to grow its future. Like much about Charlotte’s skiand-ride program, equipment night was hectic and messy, but Krasnow handled it with his usual equanimity. By the end of the night, every kid went home with something they needed. Sure, it might

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

have been a pair of rear-entry ski boots that were fashionable when Bill Clinton was president, or a snowboard sporting the logo of a rock group that flamed out years before the student was born. But every piece of gear got a strip of masking tape with the student’s name scrawled in black Sharpie, and most of it got logged in Krasnow’s spiral notebook — his free-form inventory system.

MY WHOLE CONCEPT ...

WAS TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE. MIC H AE L K R AS NO W

Once a week for five weeks starting in mid-February, Krasnow will bring nearly 150 K-8 students to Bolton Valley for three hours of night skiing, snowboarding and often unsupervised fun. Years ago, he said, he learned that the program’s popularity has to do with a lot more than carving turns or mastering moguls. “It’s a social event for 90 percent of the kids. Nobody here’s training for the

Olympics,” he said. “This is as much about the bus ride and being in the lodge as it is about being on the slopes.” It’s also about giving kids a taste of freedom and autonomy in a (mostly) controlled environment. All but the youngest skiers and snowboarders must locate their snowboards, skis and poles in the pile coming off the delivery truck, get themselves and their gear to lessons and on lifts, and navigate the mountain. They’ll eat dinner with friends on their own schedule and, with luck, make it to the buses in time for the 45-minute drive back to Charlotte. “It’s an independence issue,” said Krasnow, who taught high school for 15 years in the 1970s and ’80s. “That should be part of every kid’s education — not always having an adult telling them what to do.” Credit for starting Bolton Valley’s afterschool ski-and-ride program goes to Ralph DesLauriers, who founded the resort in 1966. Having noticed that most of the skiers on the mountain were from out of state, DesLauriers installed lights on the slopes in 1968, making afterschool skiing possible. Bolton is still one of Vermont’s few resorts offering night skiing, and its afterschool program is the state’s largest. Keegan Bosworth, mountain programs manager, said more than 1,300 students from 36 schools and organizations will hit the slopes this year. The resort provides financial incentives to schools and town recreation departments in the form of one scholarship (a free lift ticket, equipment and lessons) for every 15 paying students. Though some students buy season passes, the program has never been a big moneymaker. “The focus is really on bringing kids up here who have never had the opportunity to get into the sport and have them fall in love with it,” said Bosworth, 27, who participated when he was a student at Vergennes Union High School. Vermont’s winter Alpine sports industry has no statewide afterschool program, even though the practitioners of winter sports have been steadily aging for decades. In 2023, the median age of downhill skiers was 35, up from 24 in the 1960s, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Champions of such programs say that if kids learn to ski or snowboard when they’re young, developing muscle memory, they’re far more likely to continue when they’re older. Krasnow, who brings 20 to 25 newbies to the slopes each year, developed his own love of skiing at age 4. The youngest of five boys, he grew up in Malverne, N.Y., a small town on Long Island’s south shore. For years his family took annual ski trips to Vermont, a rarity in the 1950s.

KEN PICARD

“It was so unusual then for someone from Long Island to be skiing that we were known as the ‘Skiing Krasnows,’” he said. For eight winters, the Krasnows vacationed at the now-defunct Buccaneer Motel and Ski Lodge in Stowe, which was owned and operated by Bill and Betty Kidd. Their son, Billy Kidd, the legendary Alpine skier and Olympic medalist, taught Krasnow how to play Ping-Pong. Michael Krasnow helping an eighth grader at Charlotte Central School

Krasnow continued skiing through college before starting his teaching career in the Boston neighborhood of Mattapan. In those years, his school was 98 percent Black and 2 percent Latino. His first winter as a teacher, Krasnow took a group of sixth graders skiing, most of whom had never been out of Boston. At his next job, teaching at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in Cambridge, Mass., Krasnow started a ski club with 15 participants. “By the time I left in ’89, we were taking a thousand kids a year skiing,” he said. “It was the largest high school ski program in the country.” In 1989, Krasnow, his wife, Sumru Tekin, and their two young sons moved to Charlotte, where two of Krasnow’s brothers owned property on Mount Philo. (Three Krasnow families still live there.) For 16 years, Krasnow ran Bazou and Bazou South, retail stores in Burlington and Charlotte, respectively. When his kids started at Charlotte Central School, he volunteered with the ski-and-ride program, which had just 22 participants. By the time he took it over the following year, Krasnow had grown it to 100.

“My whole concept, just like in Cambridge, was to expand the opportunity to everyone,” he said. Krasnow solicited donations of equipment, the cost of which is the biggest barrier to entry. When he learned that a vice president at Burton lived in Charlotte, he got the snowboard company to offer surplus gear. Most of his equipment is still donated. Eight years into the program, at the request of parents with older children, Krasnow expanded ski-and-ride to include kindergartners through second graders. Last year, 22 of his participants were under the age of 8. Since its inception, ski-and-ride has always been self-funded. Most families pay $149 per student, which covers lift tickets, transportation and equipment. Lessons cost a small additional fee, but families with season passes get a reduced rate. The worst snafu Krasnow typically encounters is when a middle schooler shows up with unusually big feet; this winter, he had three teens size 11 or larger. After three decades with the program, Krasnow said he’s seeking someone to replace him — though not because he’s grown tired of the kids or the mayhem. “I’ve planned to retire for the last three years [but] haven’t been able to successfully do it,” he said. “I’m 71. Can I do this when I’m 80? No.” Longtime Charlotte residents marvel at Krasnow’s persistence in the timeintensive, unpaid position. “The first time I volunteered and came up to the mountain with Michael ... it was just complete chaos,” recalled Maura Wygmans, a member of the Charlotte Recreation Commission who’s volunteered with ski-and-ride for the past decade. Wygmans and her husband, Justin, drive one of the trucks that haul students’ equipment to and from the mountain. “You throw 100 pairs of skis and poles in the back of a truck, and somehow they sort themselves out,” she added. “I don’t know how it works, but it works. And everyone ends up happy.” State Rep. Chea Waters Evans (D– Charlotte), who grew up in town, has three boys who’ve all done ski-and-ride. A serial volunteer herself, Evans cannot fathom how Krasnow has stuck it out for so long. “Have you ever been on that bus and seen it in action?” she asked, half-jokingly. “Any other human being would have run away screaming.” As for Krasnow, he marvels at how things inexplicably work themselves out once he drops the kids at the lodge. “It’s 15 minutes of total chaos, and then the whole building is empty,” he said. “Once I get the kids to the mountain, what happens is sort of magic.” ➆

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Spice-rubbed tuna at Three Penny Taproom

My Three Cents

After 15 years and two major floods, Montpelier’s Three Penny Taproom is thriving B Y S U ZA NNE POD HAIZE R

ne night in the late aughts, after spattering myself with burning pork fat at my Montpelier restaurant, Salt Café, I slipped into Three Penny Taproom after service. I ordered the most expensive Scotch, a pair of pickled eggs and chilly water in which to submerge my scorched hand. When the bartender dropped off my Lagavulin and a frosty metal bowl, he touched his heart — a gesture no doubt familiar to many regulars. As the whiskey and the buzz of the crowd soothed the pain from my burn, I reflected on how Three Penny felt like a home away from home, even to someone who didn’t like hanging out in bars. At the time, Three Penny was a new kid on the block. The bustling bar opened on Montpelier’s Main Street in 2009 and boasted a bountiful beer list with plenty of coveted Hill Farmstead brews on tap, all the Statehouse gossip you could dream of and fun staffers to boot. It was a rural “Cheers”

The bar at Three Penny Taproom

with upscale beers and a couple of CrockPots and panini presses for a kitchen. (A full-size kitchen was added in 2012.) Fifteen years later, after two devastating floods and thousands of peanutbutter-and-hot-pepper-topped burgers,

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Three Penny feels just as warm and relevant as ever. The menu is packed with playful takes on familiar dishes, and the airy dining room complements the cozy bar. A recent expansion into the former antiques store next door has added

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seating, a stage for musical acts and a 14-by-14-foot walk-in refrigerator. According to Kevin Kerner, who owns Three Penny with Wes Hamilton, one of the most exciting aspects of the new space was that it accommodated every last item in the bar’s basement. “We’ve been working on this for six or seven years,” he said. In 2011, during a deluge that came three months before Tropical Storm Irene, the bar lost a reported $10,000 worth of bottled beer to catastrophic flooding on its lower floor. When the expanded space opened, on July 3, 2023, “We closed the latches [to the basement door], and that was that,” Kerner said. But the safety he and Hamilton sought was elusive. Seven days later, more historic flooding arrived. And for the second time, Three Penny lost nearly everything, as did many of its fellow Montpelier businesses. In October, after a cleanup and rebuild, Three Penny opened its doors once more. Chef Erik Larson, a New England Culinary Institute graduate and alum of Lost Nation Brewing and the Mad Taco, again began serving the fun and flavorful food for which the bar is known. Kerner and Hamilton hired Larson during the pandemic — one of their biggest coups as an ownership team, Kerner said. “We’ve had great people run the kitchen in the past, but Erik is a dream chef.” What makes him so dreamy? “He listens, and his ego never gets in the way,” Kerner noted. “He understands that we need to have a static menu for the customers who grace us every day, but we also have our specials, which is where he really shines.” On a recent visit, my partner and I opted for the regular menu items, but those were pretty shiny, too. We started with chicken “nuggs” ($8): whole pieces of tender chicken — rather than a ground-up meat composite — battered and fried, with a handful of sauce options. The basket of delicious fried chicken bits, which we dipped in a tangy, sweet and spicy chile sauce, gave me a thrill reminiscent of childhood. “Internally, we call it elevated pub food,” Kerner said, “but we also call it incredible stoner food. It’s like, ‘Hey, man, let’s make chicken nuggets!’” MY THREE CENTS

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Deep City

1/23/24 12:40 PM

Burlington’s Deep City to Reopen With Brunch The lights are back on at DEEP CITY, and former Penny Cluse Café co-owner CHARLES REEVES is in the kitchen. By late March or early April, the Burlington waterfront restaurant owned by the FOAM BREWERS team will reopen with regular brunch service. Before closing Deep City on November 22, Foam’s partners contacted Reeves for advice about the restaurant, which launched in March 2020. “We realized we were a good match,” Reeves told Seven Days. He’s bestowed on himself the title of “food director,” he said, and will redevelop food service for both the restaurant and Foam’s taproom next door. Rather than serving dinner, Deep City will remain an event space at night. If longtime Burlington favorite Penny Cluse was a breakfast and lunch spot, Reeves said, “this is brunch.” He’s still designing the menu but said it might include familiar sauces such as salsa verde and salsa ranchero from

the restaurant he owned with his wife, HOLLY CLUSE, which closed in November 2022. Since spring 2023, Reeves has worked with the team at Burlington’s HALVORSON’S UPSTREET CAFÉ to revamp its menu. “I’m not opening up Penny Cluse there,” he said of the light-filled Deep City space. “But I am gonna open up a very brunch-specific place where the coffee’s good, the smoothies are good, the breakfast cocktails are right, and the offerings are really fresh.” Reeves has already begun expanding food offerings in Foam’s taproom; lunch options such as soup, grilled-cheese sandwiches and small entrées will be available soon. Over the next year, the team will develop a bakery to pair with the brewery, making the most of its yeast and other raw ingredients. The chef said he hopes to be part of the Foam team “for many years.” “We’ll see how I do with the brunch thing,” he added with a laugh. SIDE DISHES

» P.43 Untitled-13 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

1/16/24 5:12 PM

PHOTOS: JAMES BUCK

DOUGHNUTS

Twisted Halo doughnuts

Cruller Craft

Williston-based Twisted Halo raises the bar for fresh doughnuts B Y M E L I SSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

t 5:30 a.m. on a recent Wednesday, Emma Slater was almost two hours into her workday. The baker had left her Charlotte home around 3:15 a.m. headed for Champion Comics and Coffee in Williston, where she rents the shop’s kitchen for her Twisted Halo doughnut business. By the time this reporter dragged herself out of bed, it was way past “time to make the doughnuts,” and Slater, 27, had already checked several items off her to-do list. Unlike the bleary-eyed Dunkin’ Donuts baker in the 1980s commercials that coined

that phrase, Slater was bright-eyed as she stirred a pot of batter on the stove for the style of doughnuts she calls churros. Soft mounds of rich brioche dough waited to be shaped into featherlight yeasted doughnuts. Slater’s predawn energy might be credited to the multiple espresso shots she consumes daily — up to 10 during the busy summer season, she said. The winter is relatively slow for Slater, whose freshly fried doughnuts have become a favorite at Burlington’s South End Get Down and the Shelburne and Winooski

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

farmers markets since she launched in September 2021. Currently, she stocks the bakery case at Champion — where customers can also pick up Friday and weekend preorders — and makes Sunday deliveries to Charlotte’s Old Brick Store. Slater raises the bar for freshness. All of her doughnuts are made with Nitty Gritty Grain flour grown in Charlotte. “You can see the mill date on the bag,” she said. “It smells like fresh wheat.” At events, every doughnut is piped or hand-shaped and fried on-site, then handed to customers, usually within minutes.

“I’m kind of a snob about doughnuts,” Slater said, as she deftly piped rings of churro dough. “I think they should always be eaten hot, fresh out of the fryer.” During the summer, fans wait in line to pay $5 a piece for Twisted Halo’s ethereally light and crisp yet custardy churros (actually egg-rich, French-style crullers), which Slater dusts with cinnamon sugar or glazes with dark chocolate. She also makes pillowy raised doughnuts filled with scratch-made lemon curd or strawberry jelly and exceptionally tender sour cream cake doughnuts glossy with maple or local berry icing. Frying on-site is no small feat. Slater quipped that her side hustle is rewiring after frequent equipment meltdowns. The team once made 350 doughnuts in an improvised setup with two lobster pots on a flattop grill. Last May through October, Slater and her small team spent frenetic weekends

food+drink bouncing between venues to produce a total of 8,000 doughnuts. She went to bed at 6 p.m. and woke at midnight, obsessively checking forecasts to adjust dough prep time for temperature and humidity. This year, she won’t sell at Winooski’s market — a decision she said she made reluctantly. Slater never planned a culinary career, although she enjoyed baking at home and as a teen employee of the Old Brick Store. In college, she studied linguistics with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. A speaker of French, Farsi and Arabic, she taught in Algeria in 2019 with the promise of a Fulbright Program

English teaching assistantship for the following year. When the pandemic hit, Slater came home, followed eventually by her Algerian husband. Her “command of a really niche dialect of Arabic” was not suited to local employment, she said, so she cobbled together jobs baking and as a barista. Making doughnuts for a party inspired her to launch Twisted Halo. She hasn’t yet achieved her goal of financial stability but said she’s having fun along the way. “If I had known how difficult doughnuts were, I would have picked something else,” she said, only half-joking. At about 7:30 a.m., Al Senecal of Essex Junction popped into the still-closed Champion Comics. Slater hadn’t yet started frying the day’s doughnuts, but she pulled him an Americano and hesitantly agreed to give him a warmed, day-old churro for free. Senecal returned about 20 minutes later to tell the baker how “amazing” the doughnut was. “If that’s day-old,” he said, “I’m coming back for some fresh ones.” ➆

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Find Twisted Halo doughnuts at Champion Comics and Coffee, 31 Cottonwood Dr., Williston, Wednesday through Sunday until sold out (preorder online for Friday through Sunday pickup starting at 10 a.m.); and at the Old Brick Store, 290 Ferry Rd., Charlotte, Sunday from 8 a.m. until sold out. Learn more at twistedhalodonut.com.

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food+drink SMALL PLEASURES

Tropical Taste Sipping beyond Dry January with Guinep, from the team behind Burlington’s Alice & the Magician B Y J O RD AN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

tangy flavor of the round green fruit — which resemGuinep fruit bles a lime on the outside and a lychee on the inside — and, more importantly, by its intense aroma. “The flavor of alcoholic drinks is really, really aromatic,” he said. “[Using guinep,] you get the full bouquet that’s hard to achieve with nonalcoholic drinks.” The tropical theme ties in nicely with the drink’s other unusual inspirations: deep ocean minerals. When designing Guinep, the team knew it needed to do more than just taste good, Wisniewski said. As they researched hydration, Guinep’s makers discovered the benefits of deep ocean minerals — a combination of 70 different minerals and trace elements extracted from water more than 200 meters below the ocean’s surface, headlined by magnesium, calcium and potassium. These minerals have been linked to improved cellular function and cognitive performance, though research on their effects is still pretty new. Wisniewski sees their potential health regular Shift Drink happy hours at Burlington bars for benefits as an alternative to the “booze-free buzz” promised by other nonalcoholic drinks. folks interested in living alcohol-free, though he said he For sustainability reasons, Guinep thinks Guinep might fit more logically into day drinking doesn’t contain actual guinep fruit, than nightlife. Wisniewski said. Instead, he re-created its “The social-drinking ritual has bled earlier in the day, essence in his flavor lab and comand — we lovingly and ironically say this — [Guinep] kind bined it with monk fruit extract, a of fills the same category as a classier, tastier version of zero-calorie sweetener. The result White Claw for the nonalcoholic community,” he added is full-bodied, lightly bubbly and with a laugh. not quite sweet, with a refreshThe national hard seltzer brand launched White Claw ing, tropical taste. 0% Alcohol on January 1, so it’s a timely comparison. I, for Curious drinkers can find one, would much rather have cans of Guinep in my beach cans ($3.65 each) at Vermont cooler this summer. ➆ stores or try it at the flavor Small Pleasures is an occasional column that features lab in the Soda Plant at 270 delicious and distinctive Vermont-made food or drinks that Pine Street on weekdays pack a punch. Send us your favorite little bites or sips with between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. big payoff at food@sevendaysvt.com. Wisniewski also hosts

The days of Dry January may be waning, but the founders of Guinep have a new pitch: “Guinepuary,” a six-month celebration fueled by their nonalcoholic ocean mineral cocktail. Their what? That was my first reaction when I saw the slim, beachy cans nestled among the sodas and kombuchas in a local drink cooler. Vermont’s zero-proof beverage options are exploding, but “ocean mineral cocktail” was a new category for me. As I dug into the subject, Guinep started to make sense. The drink’s name — like its main flavor and aroma — derives from the tropical guinep fruit, which grows wild in the Caribbean and Central and South America. Launched in late spring 2023, the product comes from the sensory geniuses behind Alice & the Magician, a flavor company based in Burlington’s Soda Plant. Alice & the Magician has always had a beverage slant, which manifested most significantly in its now-defunct cocktail aromatics line. While running the business, which started in 2012 and is now a consultancy, cofounder Aaron Wisniewski gave up alcohol. So did Lindsey Carter, now Guinep’s operations manager. Two years ago, they got to work designing their own NA bev. Wisniewski first encountered Guinep’s namesake in Puerto Rico several years ago. He was struck by the sweet,

INFO Learn more at drinkguinep.com.

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Stoned I was not, but the nuggs, combined with bites of charred vegetable salad ($12 to $16), made for pretty excellent sober person’s food, too. Featuring a medley of winter crops, including Brussels sprouts, squash, green beans and potatoes, the hearty salad was topped with feta, pepitas and lemon tahini dressing. It was unlike any salad I’d had before. Why do people even serve normal salads in winter? I wondered, stabbing my fork into a delicious hunk of roasted potato. I also enjoyed the finger-licking-good hot honey on the roasted corn fritters ($10) but wished there were more kernels studding the cornmeal batter. As we ate, my companion sipped a Mayflower Brewing porter ($6) — one of 22 alcoholic options on tap — while I drank a refreshing Farmer’s Hand Volume 2 hard cider ($6) from Brookfield’s 1000 Stone Farm. Kerner, who curates Three Penny’s drink list, said he aims to create a mix that is “food friendly but also diverse … with something for everyone.” Greensboro’s Hill Farmstead beers are in heavy rotation, typically occupying four to nine drafts. The list often features other marquee Vermont brewers, such as Waitsfield’s Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Albany’s Wunderkammer Biermanufaktur, along with sips from both famous and emerging breweries around the country. The cider I sampled is a newer offering. Long-standing vendors at the Burlington and Montpelier farmers markets, 1000 Stone owners Kyle Doda and Betsy Simpson are known for their produce and gorgeous selection of fungi. Last fall, they added a crisp, clean-tasting hard cider to their roster. “Kyle and Betsy are really good friends of ours, and I love what they’re doing,” Kerner said. “They’re really smart and hardworking. When [Kyle] started … brewing, we talked about carbonation levels and pricing, and they just nailed it.” Kerner said that, while Three Penny sources ingredients from a wide range of area farms, 1000 Stone is its most frequent supplier. “We get mushrooms from them every week and greens in the summer,” he noted. Those very mushrooms, perfectly sautéed, made an appearance on a plate of bucatini carbonara ($20) alongside lots of fatty pork, bright green peas and a few strands of pea shoots. The pasta was ideally al dente, the yolk emulsion slick and delicious. My only wish was for a 42

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

My Three Cents « P.36

WE CALL IT ELEVATED PUB FOOD, BUT WE ALSO CALL IT INCREDIBLE STONER FOOD.

IT’S LIKE, “HEY, MAN, LET’S MAKE CHICKEN NUGGETS!” K E V IN K E RNE R

Chicken nuggs with chile dipping sauce

Charred vegetable salad

squirt of lemon juice — as nontraditional as that might be — and a little more salt in the pasta water. Another winner on the dinner menu: spice-rubbed tuna with horseradish cream and a pile of arugula, buried under an avalanche of crisp, golden fried artichoke ($19). Come summer, Kerner said, the

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

expansion will allow the owners to set up an “alternative kitchen,” like the one Three Penny had when it first opened, for the preparation of new menu options such as freshly rolled sushi. “It will alleviate some of the pressure on the main kitchen,” he said, “and we will be able to seat more people.” Despite the challenges they’ve faced

and their post-flood debt, Kerner and Hamilton are very pleased with how things are going at Three Penny — and especially with their seasoned staff. “It takes forever to get to this point,” Kerner said. “Everyone gets along. Everyone is working for the common good. Everyone is safe and happy and appreciated. There are no weak links within the system.” Even the well-oiled Three Penny machine, however, is no remedy for the vagaries of the weather. Like many Montpelier business owners, Kerner and Hamilton know they have to roll with the punches. “You can’t change a river, and there’s literally nothing more powerful than water,” Kerner said. “It’s like the Bruce Lee thing: You’ve got to ‘make yourself water.’ There was nothing to say or do about [the flooding] but grasp what we needed to [accomplish] and try to move on.” Three Penny has admirably done just that. ➆

INFO Three Penny Taproom, 108 Main St., Montpelier, 223-8277, threepennytaproom.com

food+drink

SIDEdishes « SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

Venison tartare and a Friend of the Devil cocktail at Paradiso Hi-Fi

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The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for its 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards on Wednesday, January 24. Two Vermont chefs and one bar were recognized in the first round of the prestigious awards. MICAH TAVELLI of PARADISO HI-FI and CARA CHIGAZOLA TOBIN of HONEY ROAD, both in Burlington, made the semifinalist list for Best Chef: Northeast. The cocktail bar at BARR HILL’s distillery in Montpelier was named in the nationwide Outstanding Bar category. Paradiso’s restaurant and listening lounge opened behind DEDALUS WINE SHOP, MARKET & WINE BAR in November 2022. Tavelli, who is also a partner in the business, previously ran the kitchen at Dedalus and worked at HEN OF THE WOOD. He sees the recognition as a reflection of how the Paradiso team cooks and runs

service. “It’s something that we’ve talked a lot about — like, ‘Hey, this is what we want to accomplish. We’d love to get nominated,’” Tavelli said. “But I think all of us have not been holding our breath. It’s a whirlwind of emotions right now.” This is the fourth time Chigazola Tobin, executive chef and co-owner of Honey Road and the GREY JAY, has made the list for Best Chef: Northeast. PATRICK AMICE, Barr Hill’s general manager of hospitality, said the Montpelier bar’s team would likely celebrate with a round of Bee’s Knees cocktails — a favorite at the distillery known for its honey-based gin. “Being one of only two distilleries [recognized in the Outstanding Bar category] pays testament to what is so amazing about our team,” Amice said. “All these other bars have every

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

Vermont Chefs and Bar Named 2024 James Beard Award Semifinalists

ingredient at their disposal, but we get to really focus on a world-class spirit that is made here in Vermont. All our cocktails highlight this awesome distillery that we work at.” The next round of the awards — a short list of nominees — will be released on Wednesday, April 3. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on Monday, June 10. Chef NISACHON “RUNG”

MORGAN of SAAP restaurant in Randolph

won Vermont’s first James Beard Foundation Award in the Best Chef: Northeast category in 2022. ➆

CONNECT Follow us for the latest food gossip! On Instagram: Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.

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culture Still from “Mad River Glen: A 75-Year Fellowship of Skiers”

See It If You Can

New film documents Mad River Glen’s 75 years as a skiers’ paradise B Y KEN PICAR D • ken@sevendaysvt.com

n the mid-1990s, Betsy Pratt, thenowner of Mad River Glen, did something many businesspeople would consider unthinkable. She turned down a lucrative offer to sell her ski resort to a corporate interest and instead sold it for a far smaller sum to a cooperative of skiers who were committed to maintaining the mountain’s natural beauty and simple ski-bum charm. Pratt, a lifelong skier who died last March at age 95, never viewed Mad River Glen as a moneymaking venture. Her accountant once estimated that she sank $3 million of her own money into the resort over the years to keep it solvent through its leanest winters. She even mortgaged her home. Decades before “Ski the East” stickers appeared on roof-racked Subarus, Pratt’s red-and-white “Mad River Glen: Ski It If You Can” bumper stickers proudly proclaimed allegiance to one of Vermont’s most celebrated ski mountains. The resort has welcomed skiers for 75 years — but never snowboarders. Now a new short documentary marks that anniversary while offering fans a glimpse into the resort’s history. On Friday, February 2, Huntington filmmaker Rick Moulton and the Stark Mountain Foundation screen “Mad River Glen: A 75-Year Fellowship of Skiers” at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center Film House in Burlington. Mad River Glen’s Basebox will host a free follow-up screening on Saturday, March 2.

Filmmaker Rick Moulton interviewing Gamal Buhaina for the documentary

FILM

Still from “Mad River Glen: A 75-Year Fellowship of Skiers”

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Using archival footage and new interviews, Moulton traces the history of the ski mountain, beginning with its founding in 1949 by Roland Palmedo. The ski industry icon was instrumental in creating the National Ski Patrol and the first women’s U.S. Olympic ski team. Palmedo, who owned the Mount Mansfield Lift Company, built Stowe’s first ski lift. However, as he watched the sport explode in popularity and investors build even more trails, lifts, hotels and resorts on the mountain, he came to lament the decline of the sport’s original rustic nature. So Palmedo purchased 2,000 acres of woodland in Waitsfield, Fayston and Warren and opened Mad River Glen in 1949. He sold the resort in 1972 to Truxton Pratt and a small group of likeminded investors who intended to keep the ski mountain small and simple. After Truxton’s untimely death in 1975 at age 49, his wife, Betsy, inherited the mountain and managed it according to Palmedo and her husband’s original vision. “All these other ski areas have leases on state or federal land, and they’re beholden to corporate boards,” Moulton said in an interview with Seven Days. “But Betsy owned the dirt [and] was able to call the shots.” That autonomy permitted her to make a then-unpopular decision: In 1993, she turned over the resort’s management to the Mad River Glen Cooperative, with the transfer of the title occurring in 1996. To finance the $2.5 million deal, the co-op sold 1,608 shares to Mad River Glen enthusiasts; Pratt even gave it an interest-free note on the amount she was owed. “She lost money on the deal,” Moulton noted, “but she kept it in the hands of the people who loved it.” Moulton’s film also recounts co-op shareholders’ 2000 decision to rebuild the mountain’s chairlift as a single rather than as a high-speed triple or quad. The lift reopened in 2004. The motivation, Moulton explained, wasn’t just nostalgia but also practicality: A high-speed quad would have put four skiers on the slopes every four seconds, while the single chair delivers just one skier every nine seconds. A higher-capacity lift would have fundamentally altered the way skiers experience the mountain, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Eighteen months in the making, “Mad River Glen” was a labor of love for Moulton, who, along with his wife, Melinda Moulton, the film’s executive producer, has been a member of that skiing fellowship since the early 1970s. Rick Moulton was twice elected as a trustee of the Mad River Glen cooperative.

OPERA VERMONT He’s been on the New England Ski Museum’s board for 30 years; was a founding member of the International Skiing History Association, of which he is still chair; and served a decade on the board of the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. His 1982 full-length film Legends of American Skiing was honored at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival and nationally released on PBS.

Betsy Pratt

PRATT LOST MONEY ON THE DEAL, BUT SHE KEPT IT IN THE

HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOVED IT. RI CK M OULTON

This isn’t Moulton’s first film about the Stark Mountain ski area. In 1988, he released “Spirit of a Classic.” But the 75-year-old, who still logs 50 skiing days a year there, thought it was time for an update and a deeper dive into what he called a “one-of-a-kind” ski area. Originally slated to run 20 minutes with 16 interviews, Moulton said, the project ballooned to more than half an hour with 45 interviews. The film has something in common with a ride in Mad River Glen’s chairlift: The longer run time is worth the trip. ➆

INFO “Mad River Glen: A 75-Year Fellowship of Skiers,” Friday, February 2, 6:30 p.m., at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center Film House in Burlington; and Saturday, March 2, 5:30 p.m., at Mad River Glen’s Basebox in Waitsfield. Free.

PERFORMING ARTS

Community Shares Concerns, Ideas at the Flynn’s Strategic Planning Meeting BY H ANN AH FEU ER hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

In lieu of a performance, community members took center stage at the Flynn in Burlington over the weekend to consider ideas for the future of Vermont’s largest performing arts organization. During the three-day public strategic planning meeting, participants sat in small circles and discussed subtopics that related to the event’s overarching question: What actions can the Flynn take now to have the greatest impact? Executive director Jay Wahl estimates that about 200 people attended the open meeting between Saturday morning and Monday evening. That includes Flynn staff, for whom attendance was mandatory. Former staff members, volunteers and leaders of other Vermont arts organizations were also present. “Turnout was great,” Wahl said. “The people who showed up are really passionate and care deeply for the Flynn and care deeply for their community.” Attendees addressed a wide range of topics, from making the arts more accessible and broadening the scope of the Flynn’s programming to strengthening relationships with other local arts organizations to improving the internal workplace culture. Other discussions centered on how to take advantage of funding resources, foster educational opportunities and respond to patrons’ safety concerns about downtown Burlington. Participants also tackled broader societal issues in breakout sessions with titles such as “Dismantling Systemic Oppression” and “Creating a Sense of Belonging.” Notes from the discussions will be publicly available on the Flynn’s website. British artist Seth Honnor facilitated the meeting, which used a format called Open Space Technology. There was no predetermined agenda; instead, attendees decided on discussion topics after they arrived. Wahl said he intends to take about a year to finalize the Flynn’s strategic plan. In the coming days, he’ll read over the meeting notes to help shape his thinking. For him, the weekend was only the beginning of a long process of determining how the Flynn can best institute change. “We’re gonna go, Hmm, what are the themes? What’s happened? Which questions didn’t get asked or answered?” he said. “There’s lots of people we still want to hear from.” ➆

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

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culture Izzie Steele and Robert David Grant in Constellations

COURTESY OF MARK WASHBURN

In the Stars

Theater review: Constellations, Northern Stage B Y A L EX BROW N • alex@sevendaysvt.com

he splendid individual parts make a still greater whole in Northern Stage’s entrancing production of Constellations. Every aspect of theater aligns. The ingredients include the connection between two strong performers; a set and lighting that enrich meaning; a blend of comedy and drama; and the script’s unique invitation for viewers to experience time in a new way. Director Sarah Elizabeth Wansley has joined all these elements into a bright little galaxy inside a theater. Playwright Nick Payne summoned these stars in a 2012 play that incorporates the theoretical possibility of multiple universes. Marianne is a physicist specializing in cosmology. She explains the science to her boyfriend, Roland: “Every choice, every decision you’ve ever made and never made, exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes.” Quantum mechanics isn’t a gimmick but a gateway, and the play is not weighed down by its ideas but set loose by them. Anything is possible, and linear time gives way to simultaneous alternatives. Constellations is a love story, each scene one of the typical points of risk in a romance when two people are wondering how to say yes, how to survive betrayal, how to convey what they feel. For all their emotional significance, the moments are mundane: the unanswered text, the extra glass of wine, the chance meeting. What’s new is the play’s structure, layering

THEATER

multiple versions of the same event to create the feeling of an eternal present and endless possibilities. Time slips forward and back as the two characters visit and revisit situations that end differently with each replay. The story begins when Roland and Marianne meet at a barbecue. We see several variations on the theme of her first flirtation: He’s married; he’s dating; he’s not yet over a breakup; he’s not interested; he’s intrigued. And she’s coy; she’s clumsy; she’s brash; she’s drunk. And then they click.

latticework, each soaring to the full height of the theater. Simple geometric shapes and subtle patterns appear in the wood. A huge globe that echoes a moon or a planet hangs over the stage. The heights these elements command contrast with a stage area of low-slung platforms. The actors are beautifully tiny, small as subatomic particles, often seated close together in a world that towers above them. Mary Ellen Stebbins embellishes the atmosphere with lighting design that seems simple but is actually a wealth of

THE PLAY’S STRUCTURE LAYERS MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THE SAME EVENT TO CREATE THE FEELING OF AN

ETERNAL PRESENT AND ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. The lines repeat; the moods and outcomes change. Wansley underscores the differences by putting the performers in new positions and giving them small actions they can carry out with changing attitudes. At first, it seems like the ultimate rehearsal, as the actors inject different tones into the same words. But it’s more than a clever exercise. We start to see possibilities, not performance craft. We enter a multiverse of subtleties as the variations express human essence. This production uses sound, light, music and set design to reveal the play’s themes in other dimensions. Suggesting the infinity of space itself, scenic designer Joey Mendoza’s set is three huge walls of

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

delicate variations, all focusing attention on the actors. She uses big external effects, yet they’re never showy and seem to arise from the action itself. Set and lighting establish a grand contrast of scale to echo the show’s playful dynamic between small choices and enormous consequences. To amplify the script’s theme-andvariations structure, pianist Rose Van Dyne plays live, partially hidden in the latticework. An original composition by Alek Deva combines percussive rhythms that mirror the repetitions in the dialogue with melodic figures that complement the play’s emotional sweep. Occasional fierce plucks directly on the piano strings hint at a universe

crackling with indifference. Van Dyne’s performance is subtly integrated into the action, providing equal parts sound bath and suspense. As Roland and Marianne, Robert David Grant and Izzie Steele both turn in impressive performances, but the essence of their accomplishment is working together. The rapid tonal shifts, each carved with precision, are a product of two performers connecting. Grant and Steele are married in real life. The characters they play achieve an intimacy that sparkles through both the comedy and the drama of the story. Their work is almost a dance, in which the characters express themselves through their changing physical distance. Sometimes we see a closeness that conveys being wrapped in a blanket; sometimes a detachment signaling the little ticking fear that makes every romantic admission a risk. The pair can spin from melancholy to humor with a shoe scuffed in indecision or a step quickened. Grant and Steele show Roland and Marianne listening to each other with a hunger to know everything the other is willing to share. Wansley and the actors emphasize the story’s sorrowful side, and a meditative mood prevails. The humor isn’t lost, but the story’s depth is stressed by an elegant stillness. Musical repetition is powerful because listeners learn patterns and hear the next phrase with the richness of memory. They’re playing along, participating in the music. Constellations gives viewers the same opportunity. One of this production’s finest moments is a scene that’s played in spoken words and then, slightly changed, in American Sign Language. Memory lets us follow it; the expressiveness of signing lets us feel it. The play’s concept is part of every scene, but the human story is what registers. This multiverse is less about infinity than about sensitivity, and the play subtly tugs viewers to look closely for the small gestures that allow people to express love and face sorrow. Roland the beekeeper wants the same sense of purpose his bees have. Marianne the cosmologist peers at a pitiless universe and wants to hold on to choice. They find what they need in each other, invested in every possibility. ➆

INFO Constellations, by Nick Payne, directed by Sarah Elizabeth Wansley, produced by Northern Stage. Through February 11: Wednesdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Saturdays, 2 p.m.; and Sundays, 5 p.m., at Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, in White River Junction. $19-69. northernstage.org

Five Days of Winterfest JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 4

Bluegrass, Wassailing, Broomball, Bingo, Games, Wine & Beer Tasting, Kidsfest and More! Find the full schedule and event details at waterburywinterfest.com The newly renovated Lebanon Opera House

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! GOLD LEVEL

PERFORMING ARTS

Lebanon Opera House Reopens With a Makeover for Its Centennial B Y H AN N AH F E U E R • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

Lebanon Opera House is reopening next week with a new look after five months of renovations — just in time for the performing arts center to celebrate its 100th year. The $3.4 million renovation builds upon the art deco aesthetic of the space, located on the second floor of Lebanon City Hall, just over the New Hampshire border. Upgrades include LED stage lighting, new dressing rooms, plywood subfloor and carpeting, roomier theater seats with cupholders, fresh paint, and custom chandeliers. The public can see the updated venue at a free housewarming party on Wednesday, February 7, complete with a cash bar, DJ and dancing. “I can’t wait for people to see the change,” executive director Joe Clifford said. “It’s transformative.” Built in 1924, the historic space initially served as a vaudeville theater. It was converted into a movie theater in 1951, closed in 1969 and reopened in 1975 with a remodel that could accommodate live performances. In 1991, the City of Lebanon established a nonprofit to take over management of the facility. Ten years later, the theater was again remodeled with the installation of a freight elevator and expansion of backstage and green rooms. The recent renovation was entirely funded by donors as part of a campaign to raise $4.2 million for the opera house in advance of its centennial. The refresh transforms the venue into a modern theater, Clifford said. New stage lighting brings the theater in line with industry standards, he explained, and attendees can sit more comfortably in wider seats with more legroom. More spacious seating meant taking out a row in the balcony and lowering the total number of chairs in the theater from 800 to 745, Clifford said. Several rows of new, removable chairs in the back of the theater can also make room for dancing.

SILVER LEVEL “For a long time, we were trying to fit ourselves into the city hall building,” Clifford said. “Now, we’re making a space comfortable for our essential purposes, which is about welcoming people to the theater.” Funds from the $4.2 million campaign not allocated to the renovation will go toward expanded staffing, underwriting Lebanon’s Nexus Music and Arts Festival in August, and buying portable stage equipment to mount shows off-site, in places such as parks, churches and community centers. The opera house has raised about $3.8 million so far, according to Clifford. In its centennial year, Lebanon Opera House will welcome big names such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9 winner Sasha Velour (March 4). Other bookings include standup comedian Tom Papa (April 5), who has two Netflix specials; Washington, D.C.-based political satire group the Capitol Fools (March 9); and Brooklyn-based band Red Baraat (March 16), whose “Festival of Colors” show celebrates the Hindu holiday of Holi. The opera house will also host a 100th birthday celebration in October. Through its many incarnations, the opera house has always served as a community gathering place, Clifford said. The modernized space will fulfill that same purpose. “It’s not only touring artists who get access to this amazing venue — it’s little kids in ballet school, it’s the teeny theater group, and it’s the Grammy-winning musician,” he said. “It really is about serving the community and trying to make this the best venue we can for the next 100 years.” ➆

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L L A G N I L L A C SIGNERS!

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INFO LOH@100 Housewarming Party, Wednesday, February 7, 4:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. Free. lebanonoperahouse.org

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

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culture

EVA SOLLBERGER

Dr. Susan McMillan, Crystal Renaud and Baxter

Pet Project An Old North End vet clinic has been caring for pets for almost 20 years

or many of us, pets are part of our families. But vet care can be expensive and out of reach for many low-income households. For almost 20 years, Burlington’s Old North End Veterinary Clinic has provided an affordable option. Its office is not fancy, nor is it equipped for high-tech procedures, but the staff provides loving care to many animals at a price point that works for folks in the neighborhood. Dr. Susan McMillan and Kit Roberts moved to Vermont in 2003 and have always had animals. The married couple opened Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in 2005 and visited pets in their homes. The following year, they started the clinic on North Champlain Street in a building rented from Champlain Housing Trust. The pair’s goal was to provide low-cost care by outsourcing complex procedures and

working within clients’ budgets. Over the years, their clinic has become an institution in the ONE — many dog owners stop in during walks just to say hello. On March 1, the Humane Society of Chittenden County’s Community Pet Clinic will take over the Old North End Veterinary Clinic’s lease from Champlain Housing Trust. The two clinics have shared the office for the past two years, so this is not a huge change. McMillan and Roberts are semiretiring, but McMillan will continue to provide endof-life care for pets. Details are still being ironed out, but Old North End Veterinary Clinic staff members Crystal Renaud and Liz Poulsen will likely stay on after the transition to help ensure that affordable vet care remains available in the ONE. Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger’s two cats have been patients of Dr. McMillan’s since 2020. She visited the clinic on a snowy day to talk to the staff and then tagged along at a house call in Burlington.

Episode 707: ONE’s Low-Cost Vet

Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode. Why did you feature this vet? My cat Loki is a difficult cat who does not travel well and hates being put in a cat carrier. Because of this, Dr. McMillan has been my mobile vet since 2020. Our annual visits can be stressful, but Dr. McMillan always manages to administer shots quickly, before Loki starts fighting back. Because Loki is temperamental, I try to limit the amount he has to be handled. Dr. McMillan totally understood this handsoff approach and never made me feel guilty or like a bad pet owner. I have also visited the clinic over the years with my more easygoing cat, Lex. I am always impressed by how caring the staff are, despite how busy they always seem to be. And you never know whom you will run into there — it is a hub of activity. When I heard that Dr. McMillan was semiretiring, I felt it would make a good story.

You met a great assortment of animals. I tagged along with Dr. McMillan and head technician Crystal Renaud on a visit to Lea Terhune’s plant-filled house in Burlington. Terhune’s three rescue dogs, Baxter, Mali and Gracie, were an eclectic group. Baxter is a beagle whose “quirk,” according to Terhune, is high-pitched barking. Baxter was reacting to me and making his unique sounds because I was a stranger. Dr. McMillan gave Baxter some calming pets, and he quieted down and got used to me. Later, he even let me give him some rubs — Baxter has very soft ears. Dr. McMillan and Renaud have a great working relationship and have been visiting Terhune and her rescue dogs for years. Both Mali and Baxter had their anal glands expressed, something no pet enjoys, but it helps them feel better in the long run. I didn’t think they’d be able to manage Baxter, as he is a bit high-strung, but Renaud held him firmly and talked to him calmly throughout the quick procedure. Baxter howled and cried, but when it was over, he happily went outside for a run. Glad to see cats represented with Butternut. As much as I loved all the dogs we met, I felt it was important to include a cat, too. Luckily, Butternut and his caretakers were able to stop by for a checkup at the clinic — although “Nutty” is probably not happy to learn that he is a few pounds overweight and will be put on a diet. Butternut has a lot of friends in the neighborhood, and he eats meals at a few houses, so we will see if the diet sticks. This vet has been a staple for many in this hood. As Butternut’s caretaker Sarah Judd said, “Susan has really been the heart of this neighborhood.” Judd and her husband, Michael Nedell, have been bringing their pets to Dr. McMillan since the business first opened. They were recounting all the different pets and experiences they shared together. And when they left with Butternut in his cat carrier, they walked home. A week earlier, I met a dog named Copa and his dad, Matt Ross. They were out on a stroll in the neighborhood, and Copa insisted they visit his pals — and get some treats, of course. The clinic feels warm and welcoming, and it is great to know that this spot will continue to be a hub for pets and humans alike. ➆

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

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

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This Valentine’s Day, express your love — or whatever’s in your heart — to someone special in the pages of this fine newspaper.

Surprise your partner, pal, parent or pet with a personalized and public Valentine’s post printed in Seven Days on February 14. All messages from simple props to marriage proposals are encouraged. Order your Cardy-o-grams ($14/message) by noon on Friday, February 9, at:

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

on screen Society of the Snow ★★★★

eary of gray, endless winter? Want to watch something that will put your suffering in perspective? A nominee for the Best International Feature Film Oscar, Society of the Snow (on Netflix) tells the story of the 1972 plane crash that left a Uruguayan rugby team and their friends and families stranded in the Andes for 72 harrowing days. J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage, The Impossible) directed the Spanish-language survival drama based on the events already chronicled in books, documentaries and the 1993 film Alive. This version adapts a nonfiction book of the same name by journalist Pablo Vierci, forthcoming in March in the U.S.

REVIEW

The deal

Twenty-four-year-old law student Numa Turcatti (Enzo Vogrincic), who narrates the film in voice-over, isn’t part of the rugby team that charters a plane to travel to Santiago, Chile, for a match. He joins the excursion on a whim to spend time with a friend. Pilot error sends the aircraft hurtling into a mountain, breaking off the tail and killing 12 of the 45 passengers and crew. The survivors huddle in the fuselage. Their clothing is no match for the cold, and they have more party supplies — cigarettes, wine — than food. They try in vain to attract the attention of planes passing overhead, only to learn later from a radio broadcast that the search has been called off. As starvation looms, the young men resort to using the flesh of their dead companions for nourishment. Horrified, Numa opts out, but the survival urge is strong. Under the leadership of the team captain (Diego Vegezzi) and medical student Roberto Canessa (Matías Recalt), the survivors employ all their ingenuity to hold out against the elements, gradually realizing that it’s up to them to save themselves.

Will you like it?

Back in the ’70s, the cannibalism aspect of the Andes plane crash saga dominated the popular imagination. But this easily sensationalized feature of the story pales 50

Stranded in the Andes, a rugby team struggles to survive in this gripping survival drama based on real events.

beside its larger themes: the mercilessness of nature, the indomitable human will to survive, the power of teamwork. As its title indicates, Society of the Snow foregrounds that last motif. Unlike many disaster films, Bayona’s doesn’t cut away to show us what the searchers or the survivors’ families are doing. The focus throughout is on the community that the survivors create, intensely bonded by their ordeal. We watch this new “society” take shape through the narration of Numa, who begins as an outsider, barely knowing most of his companions. He opens the film with a question: “What happens when the world abandons you?” The answer is that, rather than going the Lord of the Flies route, the survivors become a unit. They work and tinker and joke and even put their plight into verse, keeping one another alive through action and distraction. The film’s big set pieces — the initial crash, the subsequent avalanches — deliver as much of an adrenaline rush as any action fan could wish. Even more compelling, however, are the quiet scenes of the survivors marking time in the fuselage. Keeping the camera close to the actors, Bayona makes our skin crawl with claustrophobic dread even as we appreciate the naturalistic dialogue. Given the focus on the collective, this is a true ensemble piece in which no individual

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

performer dominates. We know almost nothing of the characters’ backstories, though an early scene in a cathedral establishes the Catholic faith they share. The horrors they undergo will test that faith and lead some of them to redefine it, as we see in a powerful conversation between Numa and Arturo Nogueira (Fernando Contingiani). Because of the lack of exposition, Society of the Snow plays more like a fever dream than a traditional narrative. Many of the actors have gripping moments, yet without previous knowledge of the story (see sidebar for starting points), it’s easy to confuse the players. The lack of clearly marked protagonists, antagonists and supporting characters could lessen some viewers’ investment. The shifting focus sends its ow n message, however. Stories like this one typically have a survivorship bias: Because they’re based on the accounts of those who lived to tell the tale, those people become the heroes. Those who died are generally relegated to supporting status — unless, of course, they bravely sacrificed their lives for those who didn’t. Society of the Snow breaks that pattern to highlight the tragic randomness of the accident, constantly reminding us that the difference between a survivor and a casualty can come down to luck. A nailbiting watch for fans of outdoor survival tales, the film leaves us with a wrenching

respect for those who didn’t make it as well as those who did. MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY... “PRISONERS OF THE SNOW: A SPECIAL EDITION OF 20/20” (2023; abc.com, Apple

TV, Hulu): This documentary features new interviews with the crash survivors. Check your library for older docs such as I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash (2010; HISTORY Vault) and the award-winning Stranded (2007; not streaming). THE IMPOSSIBLE (2012; fuboTV, Philo, PLEX, Netflix, Sling TV, rentable): Bayona’s drama about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami received criticism for focusing on tourists instead of the local Thai population. Within those limitations, it’s a genuinely terrifying disaster film featuring a Golden Globewinning performance by Naomi Watts. “YELLOWJACKETS” (19 episodes, 2021 to

present; Paramount+, the Roku Channel, Showtime, rentable): The Andes disaster was an obvious inspiration for this creepy dual-timeline series about a girls’ soccer team that crashes in the wilderness and struggles to reintegrate into society after more than a year of isolation.

HOW’S THE RIDE FEELIN’?

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

FIGHTER: Elite aviators form a squad called the Air Dragons in this Hindi action-adventure film from director Siddharth Anand, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. (166 min, NR. Majestic)

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THE IRON CLAWHHHH Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene) directed this biopic about professional wrestlers the Von Erich brothers, starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson. (130 min, R. Paramount) MEAN GIRLSHHH The Broadway musical based on the 2004 comedy film about a high schooler’s struggle with the popular clique comes to the screen, starring Angourie Rice and Renée Rapp. (112 min, PG-13. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Welden) Argylle

NEW IN THEATERS ARGYLLE: A mild-mannered novelist (Bryce Dallas Howard) is swept up in a spy plot when life mirrors her fiction in this action thriller from Matthew Vaughn (the Kingsman series), also starring Henry Cavill, Sofia Boutella and Dua Lipa. (139 min, PG-13; Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star) THE JUNGLE BUNCH: OPERATION MELTDOWN: Wild animals sail the world to find an antidote to the toxic foam invading their home in this family animation, with the voices of Wyatt Bowen and Holly Gauthier-Frankel. (89 min, PG; Essex, Majestic) ORIGIN: Ava DuVernay directed this drama about writer Isabel Wilkerson (Aujanue Ellis-Taylor) and how her experiences shaped her influential book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. (141 min, PG-13. Big Picture) THE ZONE OF INTEREST: Nominated for five Oscars, this drama from Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin) chronicles the daily life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his wife (Sandra Hüller). (105 min, PG-13; Essex)

CURRENTLY PLAYING ALL OF US STRANGERSHHHH1/2 As he embarks on a new romance, a screenwriter (Andrew Scott) finds his long-dead parents still inhabiting his childhood home in this Golden Globe-nominated drama from Andrew Haigh. With Paul Mescal and Claire Foy. (105 min, R. Roxy; reviewed 1/24)

MIGRATIONHHH A duck family meets many mishaps on its first-ever trip south in this animated family comedy with the voices of Isabela Merced and Elizabeth Banks. (92 min, PG. Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Welden) POOR THINGSHHHH1/2 In this Golden Globe winner, Emma Stone plays a clumsily resurrected Victorian woman who embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery. With Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe. Yorgos Lanthimos directed. (141 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Roxy, Stowe; reviewed 1/10) WONKAHHH1/2 Timothée Chalamet plays the young Willy Wonka in this musical fantasy, directed by Paul King (Paddington). (116 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Welden)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

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THE HOLDOVERS (Playhouse) MY FAIR LADY 60TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun & Mon only) OPPENHEIMER (Capitol)

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THE WIZARD OF OZ 85TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Wed 31 only)

OPEN THEATERS Catamount Arts’ theater is currently closed until further notice. (* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

ANYONE BUT YOUHH1/2 A fancy wedding gives two exes (Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell) an incentive to fake-date in this rom-com from Will Gluck (Easy A). (103 min, R. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Welden)

*CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org

THE BEEKEEPERHH1/2 Jason Statham plays a former clandestine operative who goes on a vengeful rampage in this action thriller from David Ayer (Training Day). With Emmy Raver-Lampman and Josh Hutcherson. (105 min, R. Majestic, Star, Welden)

MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com

DRIVING MADELEINEHHH An elderly woman (Line Renaud) and a taxi driver (Dany Boon) reveal their inner selves as he drives her across Paris in this French drama from Christian Carion. (91 min, NR. Roxy)

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THE CHOSEN: SEASON 4: EPISODES 1-3 (Essex, Thu-Sun & Wed 7)

BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info

THE BOYS IN THE BOATHH1/2 Director George Clooney follows the University of Washington rowing team on their unlikely path to Olympic gold during the Great Depression. (124 min, PG-13. Capitol, Majestic, Stowe)

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AMERICAN FICTIONHHHH Jeffrey Wright plays a novelist who tries a daring hoax after his publisher tells him his books aren’t “Black enough” in this comedy-drama from Cord Jefferson, also starring Tracee Ellis Ross and John Ortiz. (117 min, R. Big Picture, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Savoy; reviewed 1/17)

THE BOY AND THE HERONHHHH1/2 Renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki brings us a fantasy with autobiographical elements about a boy seeking his mom in the otherworld. (124 min, PG-13. Roxy)

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ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com

MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com

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PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com

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SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 2290598, savoytheater.com

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

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

*STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com *WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com 12h-jobfiller-career2021.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

7/30/21 2:02 PM

art

n exhibition of works on paper might sound limited, but John Anderson’s solo show at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield is anything but. In fact, “What’s the Big Idea?” reveals an imagination that is wondrously unfettered — in discovering both what can be done with paper and what the mind can call forth on it. Take Anderson’s “Paper Studies” (2006-2012), an eye-catching black-andwhite series in graphite. The artist works by exploring an idea iteratively within selfimposed parameters; in this series, each piece uses only two sheets of 15-by-11-inch paper, one of which must remain flat. Graphite can be applied in any way. The 10 variations on display illustrate wildly different ways to fold, cut or crumple paper and apply graphite. They include a black bulge punctured with tiny holes mounted on a white page; a rolled piece anchored to the flat piece, both of which are diagonally striped; and a twisted white ribbon cut to reveal black paper beneath it. And these are only a fraction of the 150-odd works in the series. “There really is no end to it; ideas and concepts can just keep coming,” Anderson said by phone from his home in Warren. Ditto for his ability to conjure unreal worlds with depth, dimensionality and perspective in meticulously hand-drawn renderings. His “Exo-objects” series (2021), on 26-by-28-inch paper, depicts minimalist forms in dry pigment and color pencil in strange relation to their ebony pencil grounds — as if they coexist “in a foreign gravity,” as Anderson writes in the series label. The 19-by-24-inch acrylic paintings of “Linescapes,” his latest series from 2023, create perspectival spaces solely with lines. “This show doesn’t represent anything that we know, anything that’s familiar to us,” said Sam Talbot-Kelly, executive director of Mad River Valley Arts and curator of the exhibition, during a visit. “I’m out into wonderland [with] how he uses shape, color, line.” Anderson’s facility with hand drawing is no surprise: The 81-year-old was an architect for 40 years. (He also made art throughout that interval.) After earning a master’s at Yale University in 1968, long before the existence of computer-aided design, he landed in Burlington by accident: After a van breakdown, a friend invited him to stay. He founded John Anderson Studio in

REVIEW

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Thinking Big For artist John Anderson, variations on and with paper are infinite BY AMY L IL LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

the Queen City in 1973 and later took on such inventive local projects as the Wing Building at Main Street Landing — on a 30-by-300-foot slice of land — and the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, whose stepped colored bricks represent the Champlain Thrust Vault. “What’s the Big Idea?” is Anderson’s first solo exhibition since his 2012 show at the BCA Center in Burlington, which marked his transition to art making as a primary pursuit. (In 2004, he had won a BCA commission to paint the SkyGate Murals, the four single-color, themed skylight cones at the Burlington airport.) The current exhibition samples all the “big ideas” the artist has explored since then, from quantum mechanics to science fiction to astronomy. The show’s title comes from his undergraduate days at Williams College, when a history teacher gave him a D- on an otherwise competent paper because it had no “big idea.” Sometimes Anderson’s overarching concept appears to be the 3D potential of paper itself. Like “Paper Studies,” the “Cosmic Rope Constructions” series (2016-2019) is akin to paper sculptures. On 24-by-18-inch pages, Anderson layered printed photographs of nautical rope tangled in seaweed that he took on Cape Cod — he’s also a photographer — with swirls and nests of paper ribbons that he painted, punctured or printed with microscopic text. These pop off the page like “models for imaginary cosmic events” such as exploding stars, the artist writes in his series label. “I think of paper as an object, which is why I don’t want to frame anything,” Anderson said, explaining the pins that hold each piece to the wall. Hence, too, his aversion to overstepping the paper’s boundaries: Nearly every work is neatly centered within the material’s rectangular format. Other series’ big ideas aren’t obvious. In one 18-by-24-inch work in the “Unbuilt Projects” series (2023), a thicket of vertical rods spears a group of opaque cubes inside four floating, transparent walls. Plenty of architects’ projects never get built, but this one is unbuildable. It’s a futuristic building suggesting some indeterminate human activity and made from materials that don’t yet exist, Anderson said. “When you go to work right now,” he explained, “you go into public spaces where there are lots of cubicles. That is reflective of the capitalist engine. I wanted [the

ART SHOWS

THERE REALLY IS NO END TO IT;

Clockwise from bottom left: “Paper Study 44”; “Linescape 3”; “Exo-object 8”; “Ebony 9”

IDEAS AND CONCEPTS CAN JUST KEEP COMING. J O H N AND E R S O N

series] to show bizarre, impossible buildings that would suggest a whole different way to think about government, business, politics.” Anderson said his approach to art making resembles his approach to architecture. “The concept is critical. It doesn’t

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS ‘ALL THE FEELS’: A group exhibition of works in multiple mediums that express realms of emotions, from love to loss, isolation to belonging. Reception: Friday, February 2, 5-9 p.m. The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington, February 2-23. Info, spacegalleryvt@ gmail.com. ANNA FUGARO: “Art From a Lifetime of Memories,” works in mixed media by the Middlebury artist. Reception and artist talk: Monday, February 5, 6-8 p.m. Old Stagecoach Inn, Waterbury, February 5-29. Info, 244-5056. ‘THE ART SHOW #29’: An open-media art exhibition in which members of the community are invited to show their artwork in any medium. Reception: Friday, February 2, 6-9 p.m. The Gallery at RL Photo, Burlington, February 2-29. Info, theartshowvt@ gmail.com. ATHENA TASIOPOULOS: “Saunter,” mixed-media encaustic works by the Vermont artist. Reception: Friday, February 2, 5-9 p.m., including naming ceremony of the gallery. Waterbury Studios, February 2-April 2. Info, joseph@thephoenixvt.com.

have to be real. If your concept is a building orbiting the Earth and crashing into it” — which is how one of his private home commissions began — “it opens up a conversation. The further out you go in the beginning, the bigger chance you have of ending up with something that’s innovative.”

CALL TO ARTISTS APRIL ARTS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS: The Chittenden Asylum Seekers Assistance Network is looking for artists, poets, writers, sculptors, musicians, photographers, etc. to join us for our spring fundraising event. Participants make art, write, play music or do some other creative project and share it virtually with sponsors throughout the month of April. For more info and to sign up, visit casanvermont.org. Online, through February 27. Info, artsforasylumseekers@gmail.com. ‘THE ART SHOW’: A monthly open-invite community art exhibit accepting artwork of any size or medium. Drop-off is the first Friday of every month from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reception starts at 6 p.m. The Gallery at RL Photo, Burlington, through December 6. Info, theartshowvt@gmail.com. CREATION GRANTS AVAILABLE: The Vermont Arts Council is accepting applications for this annual grant, which supports artists or artist groups in creating new work. Details and application at vermontartscouncil.org. Deadline: April 9. Online.

He added: “I think everything in life could be that way.” ➆

INFO John Anderson, “What’s the Big Idea?,” through February 29 at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield. An artist talk is Thursday, February 22, 5 p.m. Free. madrivervalleyarts.org

exhibitions per year in its ground floor hallway gallery. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, through February 29. Info, iblanchard@ southburlingtonvt.gov. THE SPRING SALON: An upcoming exhibition at the Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls, hung in the floor-to-ceiling salon style, is open to all artists of all levels. Artists may submit one to three artworks. Details and application at canalstreetartgallery.com. Deadline: February 26. Online. $12 for one artwork, $24 for two, $36 for three. Info, 289-0104. ‘TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE ART’: A curated exhibition on all three floors of the Vaults in Burlington, featuring work inspired by the full solar eclipse that will occur on April 8. Submit up to five pieces in any size, style and medium that relates to the sun or other celestial bodies, majestic events, life-altering moments, etc. Visit seaba.com to apply. Online, through March 11. Free. Info, curation@seaba.com. VERMONT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY: The arts organization’s spring show will be held at the South Burlington Public Library Gallery. Accepted work will be posted on the VWS website after February 24. Details and application at vtwatercolor.org. Online, through February 18.

BRADLEY WILLIAM MEHR: Mixed-media paintings with playful colors and subjects by the local artist. Reception: Friday, February 2, 5 p.m. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, February 2-March 30. Info, info@mainstreetmuseum.org.

SOUTH BURLINGTON PUBLIC ART GALLERY CURATOR: The Public Art Committee of South Burlington seeks a curator to mount four to six

DAVID PLOWDEN: “Portraits of America,” an exhibition of photographs arranged around the major themes of locomotives, steam ships, steel mills, bridges, small towns and the agricultural landscapes of the Midwest. Middlebury College Museum of Art, through April 14. Info, 443-5007.

century; inspired by The Negro Motorist Green Book, an annual guidebook published during the Jim Crow era. Middlebury College Museum of Art, through April 14. Info, 443-5007.

variety of mediums by 17 artists that explore the use and significance of gold in artistic expression. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover N.H., February 3-June 22. Info, 603-646-2808.

DIAMOND LIL: “Midnight Sun,” a recent body of paintings and prints. Tea and cake reception: Friday, February 2, 5-7 p.m. Grist Mill Studios, East Calais, February 2-29. Info, 505-5797.

GRYPHON ROSSI: “Double Edged Hope,” a short film about queer adolescence by the SMC senior. Reception: Thursday, February 1, 6 p.m. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, through February 3. Info, bcollier@smcvt.edu.

DERRICK ADAMS: “Sanctuary,” 50 works of mixed-media collage, assemblage on wood panels and sculpture that reimagine safe destinations for the Black American traveler during the mid-20th

‘GILDED: CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS EXPLORE VALUE AND WORTH’: A touring exhibition of works in a

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

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art JAN. 31-FEB. 7 OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

EXHIBITION

JAMES SECOR & GLEN COBURN HUTCHESON: “View From Prospect Street,” paintings by the Montpelier artists and neighbors. Reception: Friday, February 2, 4-8 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, through March 23. Info, 802-262-6035.

In ‘Every Which Way,’ Jessica Scriver’s Paintings Reflect on Directions

JOYCE KAHN: “Finding Beauty Everywhere,” plein air landscapes in pastel by the Montpelier artist. Reception and artist talk: Thursday, February 1, 4-5:30 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, through March 3. Info, moetown128@gmail.com.

BY ALICE DODGE

KIMBERLEE FORNEY: “Painting With Color and Light,” an exhibition of blacklight-painted prints. Closing reception: Wednesday, January 31, 4-5 p.m. Cosmic Grind Coffee Shop, Burlington, through January 31. Info, kimberleef@msn.com.

The paintings in “Every Which Way,” Jessica Scriver’s current solo exhibition at Studio Place Arts in Barre, suggest spinning out of place. The titles are clues: “I Think I’ve Been Here Before,” “I Thought I Knew,” “Is This a Rabbit Hole?” Viewers navigate a blank space where their GPS has no signal, lost somewhere between the clouds and the map. Scriver’s larger paintings, in the broader part of the third-floor gallery, hew to a sunny blue or yellow palette. Their subjects can be misleading. At first glance, one might see skyscapes and swarms of starlings in the 18-by-24-inch “Looking for a Place to Land” — but the starlings are arrows, and the skies contain grids. The painting positions the viewer as a bird navigating through canyons of mirrored buildings. There’s a fantastic sense of confused distance: Large and tiny arrows swirl, pointing in every direction; the ground appears stable in some places, obscured by yellow fog in others. Aside from the paintings’ enigmatic narratives, Scriver is skilled with surface treatments. The works are sanded, scraped and layered. She takes direction from the material, playing with it, yet remains in control. It’s surprising to learn this is acrylic paint, as it achieves oil-like layering effects and the soft solidity of plaster. Accordingly, viewers will notice different things about Scriver’s work depending on their proximity. From a distance, the paintings present great depth and illusion; a closer look reveals more about surface and material. Scriver’s smaller paintings in the narrow part of the hallway contrast with her swirling skyscapes. In 8-by-10-inch pieces titled like tax forms — for example, “Schedule A” and “Schedule B” — she overlays blocky rectangles to build up dense, geometric compositions. Areas of deep, saturated blue, as if pulled from an old-fashioned stamp pad, draw the eye. While a few smaller experiments like these expand the artist’s overall vision, the focus of the show is her luminous, airy works. Scriver’s dynamic compositions wonderfully evoke both dread and excitement in torrents of unknowable data. They are beautiful and enticing but risky, reminiscent of Julie Mehretu’s giant, explosive murals. Viewers will want to look at all the details but won’t be able to make sense of them. This could be seen as a metaphor for contemporary life: We are caught up in arrows and vectors, lost in murmurations, feeling ungrounded and sometimes plummeting. Regardless of Scriver’s intentions, her paintings are not didactic. She allows viewers to find their own way. We can drill down or just fly through. ➆

LAURA DI PIAZZA & JANET CATHEY: Abstract paintings and prints inspired by the natural world, respectively. Reception: Friday, February 2, 5-7 p.m., with music by David Cron. ART, etc., Randolph, February 1-March 30. Info, artetcvt@gmail.com. MEAGAN GALLO: “Grown & Gathered,” a capstone project of drawings influenced by contemporary botanical art by the SMC senior student. Reception: Friday, February 9, 7 p.m. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, February 6-10. Info, bcollier@smcvt.edu. PATRICK LEAHY: “The Eye of Senator Patrick Leahy — Photographs of a Witness to History,” featuring images taken over nearly five decades by Vermont’s former senior senator. Reception: Friday, February 1, 4:30-7 p.m. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, Montpelier, February 1-March 29. Info, 279-5558. REBECCA SCHWARZ: “Gaining Ground,” an installation of plastic plankton and sea-foam by the creative media faculty member that invites visitors to consider environmental degradation of the oceans. Closing reception and artist talk: Wednesday, January 31, 4-6 p.m. Champlain College Art Gallery, Burlington, through January 31. Info, gallery@champlain.edu. ‘REFLECTIONS AND SHADOWS’: A group exhibition of artworks by members of the Art Resource Association and Center for Arts and Learning. Reception: Friday, February 2, 4-8 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, through March 23. Info, 262-6035. ‘RIGHTY TIGHTY, BLACK AND WHITEY’: A group exhibition of works in black and white by Edward Givis, Elliot Purse, Francesco Igory Deiana, Ryan Travis Christian and Velvet Other World. Reception: Friday, February 2, 4-8 p.m. Hexum Gallery, Montpelier, February 2-March 15. Info, hexumgallery@gmail.com. ROB HITZIG: Painted and shellacked abstract works on wood by the Montpelier artist. Reception: Friday, February 2, 4-8 p.m. J. Langdon Antiques & Art, Montpelier, February 2-18. Info, rob@roberthitzig.com. RUTLAND NORTHEAST SUPERVISORY STUDENT ART SHOW: An exhibition celebrating artwork by students at Lothrop, Otter Creek Academy, Barstow, Neshobe and Otter Valley Middle and High School, and honoring teachers John Brodowski, Dasha Kalisz, Matt Aucoin, Jen Hogan and Dakota Rider. Reception: Friday, February 2, 5-7 p.m. Brandon Artists Guild, February 2-25. Info, 247-4956. SHOW 59: An exhibition of works by 23 artist members in multiple mediums. Reception: Friday, February 2, 4-8 p.m. The Front, Montpelier, February 2-25. Info, marjkramer@gmail.com. ‘TRICHROMANCY: COLOR DIVINATION’: A group exhibition featuring fiber works with a focus on color, curated by Jeannie Catmull and Fern Strong. Reception: Saturday, February 3, 6-8 p.m. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, February 3-March 16. Info, 728-9878.

INFO Jessica Scriver, “Every Which Way,” through March 2 at Studio Place Arts’ third-floor gallery in Barre. A reception is Saturday, February 3, 3:30 to 5 p.m. studioplacearts.com

GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE AND ONLINE!

From top: “Schedule A”; “Looking for a Place to Land”; “I Think I’ve Been Here Before”

PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY FRIDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

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VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

ART LISTINGS ARE WRITTEN BY PAMELA POLSTON. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.

‘VOICES FROM UKRAINE-VERMONT’: An exhibition of artwork by Ukrainian children and teens displaced by the war and currently living in Krakow, Poland. Reception: Saturday, February 3, 11 a.m. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, February 3-29. Info, 825-5983.

= ONLINE EVENT OR EXHIBIT

ART SHOWS

‘WHISP’: Weaving, braiding, stitching and repurposing works by fiber artists Neysa Russo, Nelly Detra, Katherine Coons, Amanda Weisenfeld, Delsie Hoyt, Leah Benedict and others. Reception: Saturday, February 3, 2-4 p.m. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery, St. Johnsbury, February 1-March 13. Info, 748-0158.

ART EVENTS VISITING ARTIST TALK: ROSEMARIE FIORE: The Bronx-based pyrotechnic painter, sculptor and performance artist discusses her work. Red Mill Gallery at Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Wednesday, January 31, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727. ARTIST TALK: FAWN KRIEGER & DAVID B. SMITH: The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents the artists in a Zoom discussion of their work in the current exhibition “Home Bodies,” moderated by curator Wendy Vogel. Register at brattleboromuseum.org. Online, Thursday, February 1, 7 p.m. Free. ‘THE GIFT OF ART’: An off-season exhibition of works from previous shows, as well as the gift shop and long-term collections. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, February 1-April 21. Info, 434-2167. OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation, an hour of art making in any modality or genre, and a share-andwitness process. No experience required. Many materials available. Expressive Arts Burlington, Thursday, February 1, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Donations accepted. Info, 343-8172. WELCOME TO THE SPIRAL HOUSE: An event featuring artwork and performance from more than 20 Vermont creatives. View paintings, collage, sculpture and more, followed by performances and music sets. Spiral House Art Collective, Burlington, Friday, February 2, 4-10 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale. Info, spiral.house.collective@gmail.com. ART SOCIAL: A reception for the new exhibitions on all three floors of SPA. Studio Place Arts, Barre, Saturday, February 3, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 479-7069. CURRENTLY SPEAKING: THE PRESENCE OF GARDENS IN CONTEMPORARY ART: A virtual panel discussion with artists Carlos Amorales, Cameron Davis, Wylie Garcia, Valerie Hammond, Mary Mattingly and Paul Anthony Smith in conjunction with their exhibit, “In the Garden,” at the Current in Stowe. Sign up for Zoom link at thecurrentnow.org. Online, Monday, February 5, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 253-8358. ➆

But wait, there’s more!

additional art listings are on view at sevendaysvt.com/art. Find all the calls to artists, ongoing art shows and future events online.

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music+nightlife

S UNDbites LUKE AWTRY

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene B Y CHRI S FARNSWO RT H

Kaaaaaaahan! Confessions of a Reluctant Busyhead Look, I didn’t want to write about NOAH KAHAN. Hear me out: It’s not like he didn’t merit coverage. If you’ve read this week’s cover story (page 26) or paid attention to basically any entertainment media in the past year, you know all about the Straffordborn singer-songwriter’s ascension. Grammy stuff, “Saturday Night Live” stuff, shout-outs from OLIVIA RODRIGO, charity functions … It’s all good news about a nice guy making a shitload of people happy. So what’s my problem? Well, first and foremost, I can be, on occasion, an insufferable asshole about national coverage of Vermont music. (This isn’t an apology, just an explanation. I know what I am, people.) And in Kahan’s case, this was a musician so good he got signed right out of high school — no need to drive around the state for a decade playing ski resorts and dives for shit money like 99.9 percent of working Vermont musicians do. Outside the Upper Valley, he just wasn’t part of the local scene. That’s not a dig, just facts. If Kahan had stuck around instead of heading to Nashville and New York City and Los Angeles, I have zero doubts he would have risen to the top of a seriously talented pool of songwriters in the Green Mountain State. Given that he’s selling out stadiums around the globe and could be known as “Grammy winner Noah Kahan” by Monday morning, however, I think 56

we can all agree he made the right call in seeking his fortune elsewhere. So, after Kahan released Stick Season in 2022 and suddenly Vermont had new theme music, I was reluctant to engage with it as a writer. Not immediately, to be clear. I interviewed him a few days after the record came out (insufferable asshole humblebrag) and thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. Kahan is a fun interview: He’s self-deprecating, with solid comedic timing, but isn’t afraid to go introspective. Still, I wasted no time in handing the review of the record off to one of our freelancers. Not because I didn’t want to deal with Kahan’s music but because I was already getting a sense of his growing importance to Vermonters, and I frankly wasn’t sure how to handle that. Something started to happen during conversations at shows. A friend or acquaintance would flag me down, we’d talk about the show or other Vermont music stuff, and then something like this would go down: “Did you see Noah play the other night?” The “other night” could have been one of Kahan’s local sold-out shows in 2023, late-night TV appearances or even a Lollapalooza set — it didn’t seem to matter. (Seriously, do you people think Seven Days has “send the music editor to Chicago” money? We need more Super Readers!) When I would invariably reply, “No, didn’t catch it,” the reaction from my native Vermont friends was almost universal: WHY NOT? HOW COULD YOU? YOU HEARTLESS FLATLANDER PIECE OF FILTH!

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Noah Kahan at Burlington’s Waterfront Park last summer

That’s not an exaggeration, though I will point out that one friend was smiling while she said it, per the Vermont custom of telling off kids born in New Jersey. It doesn’t matter that I’ve lived most of my adult life in the Green Mountains; I was still born at a hospital off Exit 8A on the Jersey Turnpike. To twist some of Kahan’s lyrics, I was not, in fact, raised on little light. I began to realize that, to write about what Kahan means to Vermont, I needed to understand the connection between him and people who grew up here. As a kid who moved around the East Coast his whole life, I had no such musical totem. I don’t know how it feels to have a musician hit the charts singing about street names in the city where I grew up. The musical figureheads of my generation were West Coast kids who seemed much angrier than me and most of who soon offed themselves — real talk, my therapist has begged me to stop using “’90s singer malaise” as a psychological concept. I idolized them. I wanted their awesome hair and perfect sneers, and I desperately wanted a band that sounded like LED ZEPPELIN and the CLASH had babies. But it wasn’t like I truly identified with what they were singing about. (Still heroin-free, baby!) The Kahan fans I interviewed for this week’s cover story identify with his songs on a level I couldn’t comprehend until I saw it in real time. I had to watch a girl break down in tears when the chorus of “Call Your Mom” hit. I needed to hear a group of friends scream along to the

“Homesick” lyrics “The weather ain’t been bad if you’re into masochistic bullshit” before it started to hit home. The experience brought back a strange, perhaps long-repressed memory from my childhood. I only lived in Freehold, N.J., until I was 7, but during that time, my hometown had a musician who conquered the world in an even bigger fashion than Kahan. To say BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN was a hero in that community would be an understatement. A rock star who sang about Jersey? Get da fuck outta here! But, like I said, I was 7. The lyrics to “Atlantic City” were just a tad above my comprehension. I liked DURAN DURAN, and I liked shouting “Wild boys!” loudly along with what I now think is that band’s stupidest song. But I liked it, and besides, I thought Springsteen and BILLY JOEL were brothers who were fighting over the same woman in the videos to “Uptown Girl” and “I’m on Fire,” respectively, which tells you about my level of understanding. So, when I went over to my neighbor’s house one day to watch MTV with my friend MICHAEL RUSSONIELLO and I turned down the record player, I was wholly unprepared for the reaction. “Hey! Who turned off the Boss?” Michael’s father bellowed from the kitchen. “We’re going to watch some MTV, Dad!” my friend replied, but I could see from the red on his face that we had committed a serious transgression. Mr. Russoniello appeared, flushed, confused and wearing an apron. “You boys are from Freehold,” he said. “You don’t ever turn off the Boss.” That was the only reason he gave. I never made that mistake again. I saw some of that same loyalty in Kahan’s fans these past weeks as I asked them, essentially, What’s so special about him? Their answers were a little more complex than “He’s from here,” but it was the same energy as Mr. Russoniello’s. Now I understand better why anyone would be excited to watch the Grammys this Sunday. If I felt I had a homie in the running for a statue, I’d organize a watch party, too. As it stands, I’m rooting for Kahan, as well as Vermonter ERIN BENTLAGE from the vocal group SÄJE, who are nominated for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals. To be clear, I’m not saying only Vermonters can really get Kahan’s music. Judging by his sold-out world tour and the whole No. 1-in-the-UK thing, that’s not the case. I’m just saying, hey … I get why this means so much to Vermonters now. I promise never to change the music when you’re blasting Stick Season, OK?

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

LUKE AWTRY

HAWTHORN. Now based in Philadelphia,

Cricket Blue

On the Beat

Indie-folk duo CRICKET BLUE are back with the first new music since their 2019 album Serotinalia. “I Hope You Never Think of Me” is a haunting, delicate track, suffused with lyrics about the sorrow and dark nostalgia of hearing of an old lover’s trauma. “I hope you never think of me, my old friend / I never think of then,” LAURA HEABERLIN sings, backed with gorgeous

harmonies from TAYLOR SMITH. “Oh, but here I read your name I found / where I wouldn’t know it / and the sight of it calls my forgiveness out / I never did let go of it.” The song is a departure from the band’s previous work. A more strippeddown folk song without the usual progressive leanings or chamber-pop tendencies, “I Hope You Never Think of Me” is nonetheless sonically adventurous, with the help of producer CHRISTOPHER

the Burlington expat keeps busy working with the Vermont music scene. “We’re in the middle of working on the new album,” Heaberlin said by phone. “And we had this little song I had written, but it just didn’t fit with the other material. And Taylor and I had been debating trying something a little more electronic with our production, so we decided to go the producer route with Christopher.” While Heaberlin promises the chamber folk and orchestra will be back “in full force” for the new record, it’s fascinating to see one of the scene’s most established acts continue to show new sides of its sound. “I Hope You Never Think of Me” is available now at cricketblue.bandcamp.com.

Lucky GUSTER fans hoping to catch the band before it launches its We Also Have Eras tour (I see what you did there, boys) will enjoy a golden opportunity on Saturday, February 10. The indie-rock band, which has had a strong Vermont presence in the past few years with front person and Williston resident RYAN MILLER being heavily involved in the local scene, will play a one-night stand at Après Only in Stowe with DJ TAD CAUTIOUS. However, the intimate venue holds only 225 people and the show is sold out as of this writing. So here’s hoping you didn’t sleep on tickets. ➆

188 MAIN STREET BURLINGTON, VT 05401 | TUE-SAT 5PM-1:30AM | 802-658-4771

LiveAtNectars.com

THUR 2.1

Burning Monk (Rage Against The Machine Tribute)

PREECE (Green Day Tribute 30th Anniversary of Dookie) SAT 2.3

Baked Shrimp w/ Canopy TUE 2.6

PRESENTED BY FIDDLEHEAD

Grateful Tuesdays w/ Dobbs’ Is Dead

THURSDAYS

Nectar’s Trivia Night FREE SAT 2.10

A Band of Killers

SAT 2.24

Waiting On Mongo & Moondogs THUR 2.29

Midnight North FRI 3.1 + SAT 3.2

REPRISE: Phish Tribute Each night, a show from Phish’s history will be played in its entirety.

THUR 3.7, 3.21, 3.28

No Showers On Vacation THUR 3.14 + FRI 3.15

Eggy

SAT 3.16 + SUN 3.17

Dogs In A Pile SAT 4.6

Brown Eyed Women

Listening In

All Female Tribute to the Dead

(Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “GET YA MONEY” by rivan 2. “TAKE THESE POLITICIANS” by Granville Daze 3. “SLEEPING ON MY OWN” by Jer Coons, Preece, Learic

Eye on the Scene Photographer Luke Awtry surveys local nightlife PAINT AND SIP WITH JESSE MILES SNYDER, AKA THE CULINARY SMUT PEDDLER, VENETIAN COCKTAIL & SODA LOUNGE, BURLINGTON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 25: Could it be that, at 44

years old, I had never painted anything in my life? Such was the case until last Thursday, when local painter Jesse Miles Snyder, aka the Culinary Smut Peddler, hosted the first of a new monthly paint-and-sip series. Snyder’s approach was simple to follow and consisted of two main parts. The first was a traditional approach to still life — in this case, a bottle of wine paired with a large slice of Swiss cheese. The second is where Jesse distances himself from your typical paint-and-sip. He asks that you step back from your completed painting, clear your mind and reenter reality as a wildly immature child who defiles every painting they see with arms and legs, turning its subject into an overtly filthy situation between the painted figures. I won’t be trading my cameras for brushes quite yet. But if this were the start of my painting career, I’d be more than proud to introduce the world to the one who inspired it.

4. “HALLUCINATE” by James Kochalka Superstar, Darlingside 5. “LIGHT A TORCH” by Marcie Hernandez 6. “COME ALIVE” by Double You 7. “BREAK IT DOWN” by Mister Burns

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

FRI 2.2

Nectar’s Nice Up: Dance Hall Reggae SAT 2.3

DJ Chia’s Dancehard Speakeasy Midwinter Carnival THUR 2.8

FULL MELT THURSDAYS

Wraz, Mantra Sounds Tegeki, Oddpaco FRI 2.9

Vermont Mandolin Trio ft Jamie Masefield FRI 2.16

After Hours w/ Malachi SAT 2.17

Y2K Pop w/ Jason Baron

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FEBRUARY 29 TO MARCH 10, 2024 GASTRONOMIC PROGRAMMING STARTING FEBRUARY 22

CELEBRATE 11 DAYS OF LIGHT IN MONTREAL!

FOR THE FULL PROGRAM AND LODGING DETAILS

MONTREALENLUMIERE.COM

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music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

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

live music WED.31

Bent Nails House Band (blues, rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free. Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free. Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. John Gratton (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Mac Saturn, the Thing With Feathers (rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$18. Marcie Hernandez (singer-songwriter) at Despacito, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Sunbeam, Sunshine Serpents, Audrey Pearl (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10. Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5. Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

THU.1

Christie Woods-Lucas (folk) at Stone’s Throw, Waterbury, 6 p.m. Free. Frankie and the Fuse (indie rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. GuitFiddle (bluegrass) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.2 // SAD TURTLE [INDIE ROCK]

Out of Their Shell Burlington’s

SAD TURTLE have one of the most idiosyncratic sounds in the Vermont

music scene. The four-piece plays instrumental, groove-heavy, math rock-leaning indie rock, built on frenetic arrangements and a near-telepathic interplay between guitarist Justus Gaston and keyboardist Mike Fried. To add to the oddity, most

Nobby Reed Project (R&B) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

of their song titles are derived from television show episodes, such as ’90s sitcom “Seinfeld” (“Mulva Delores?”) and

Phoneboy, the Backfires (power pop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $18/$22.

Friday, February 2, with Burlington indie act WISEACRES.

Preece, Burning Monk (Green Day, Rage Against the Machine tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10/$15. Ryan Sweezey (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Stowe, 6 p.m. Free. Sean Keefe & Eli Martell (folk) at Stone’s Throw, Fairfax, 6 p.m. Free. Timothy Quigley & Friends (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.2

beccs, Hannah Hannah (indie rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5. Birdcode (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

the animated comedy “American Dad!” (“My Olde College Javelin”). The band plays the Monkey House in Winooski on

Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Lowell Thompson (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Sarah Bell (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Andriana Chobot (indie pop) at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Heartless (Ann Wilson tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$25.

Mary McGinniss (folk) at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Shane McGrath (singersongwriter) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Baked Shrimp, Canopy (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

High Summer (soul) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Mighty Mystic (reggae) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $20.

Something Reckless (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Mitch Terricciano (singersongwriter) at Blue Cat Bistro, Castleton, 6 p.m. Free. Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

IncaHoots (covers) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. James Kochalka Superstar (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10. Josh Panda and Peter Day (Americana) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

The Red Newts, Danny and the Parts (rock, Americana) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15.

Les Dead Ringers (blues) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Sad Turtle, WiseAcres (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Jaded Ravins, J.J. Booth (Americana) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free. Live Music Saturdays (live music series) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free. Midnight Breakfast, All Night Boogie Band, DuoMango (soul, blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15. The PET Project (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Cedar (jam) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Ramblin’ Dan Stevens (blues) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Dave Keller Band (soul) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

The Rustics (Americana) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Tom Bisson (singer-songwriter) at Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

The Devon McGarry Band (folk rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Sarah Bell (singer-songwriter) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Troy Millette (singer-songwriter) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

The Dorado Collective (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

SAT.3

Alive & Pickin’ (bluegrass) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

High Summer (soul) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15. Hit Squad (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Slob Drop, the Modern Faces, Chodus (punk) at Despacito, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10. Steve Blair (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

LIVE MUSIC SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

» P.60 59

music+nightlife live music SAT.3 CONTINUED FROM P.59 Wild Party, Cousin Simple (indie pop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $18/$22. The Wormdogs (bluegrass) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

SUN.4

Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, noon. Free. Django Soulo (singer-songwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free. Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

MON.5

Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $35/$39.

TUE.6

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$20. Flint & Steale, Waves of Adrenaline (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10. Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

WED.7

Ali McGuirk, Jess & Brendan (soul, blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $8/$10. Bent Nails House Band (blues, rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free. Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Skunk Sessions (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10. Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5. Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Workingman’s Army, Rangus, the Thunder Lillies, DJ Tarnsplant (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

djs WED.31

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.1

DJ Bristol (DJ) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.1

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Radio Bean Karaoke (karaoke) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.2

Trivia (trivia) at Highland Lodge, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free.

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Kata (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. DJ LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FYSPOT (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

Tad Cautious (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $7/$10.

FRI.2

Karaoke (karaoke) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.3

Blanchface (DJ) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Dancehard Speakeasy with DJ Chia (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, midnight. $5. Dig: Queer Dance Party (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. $10. DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free. DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. HAVEN (DJ) at MothershipVT, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.4

THU.1 // PREECE [PUNK]

Do You Have the Time? It’s been 30 years since Berkeley,

Calif., punk legends Green Day released their seminal third album, Dookie. Hits such as

“Longview” and “Basket Case” exploded across MTV and modern rock radio, catapulting Green Day from underground punks to full-fledged rock stars. To celebrate the anniversary, Burlington expat Sean Preece and his band PREECE will play the record start to finish at Nectar’s in Burlington on Thursday, February 1. To keep the ’90s vibes rolling, they’ll be

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

joined by local Rage Against the Machine tribute BURNING MONK.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

FRI.2

SUN.4

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

WED.7

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams WED.31

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free. Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free. Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.1

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Salsa Night (salsa) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Thursday with Matt Dolliver (open mic) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Open Mic with Artie (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.5

Open Mic (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.6

Open mic (open mic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Open Mic Night (open mic) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Venetian Soda Open Mic (open mic) at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.7

comedy WED.31

Ari Shaffir (comedy) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6:30 & 9 p.m. $35/$40. Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Steven Rogers (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

THU.1

Comedy Wolf: Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $12/$15. Rojo Perez (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. Teacher’s Pet (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

FRI.2

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

SAT.3

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

SUN.4

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

TUE.6

Free Stuff! (comedy) at Lincolns, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

WED.7

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

trivia, karaoke, etc. WED.31

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free. Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.5

Trivia (trivia) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.6

Karaoke with Motorcade (karaoke) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke Tuesdays (karaoke) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free. Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free. Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.7

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free. Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Rock and Roll Bingo (bingo) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free. Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. ➆

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music+nightlife

REVIEW this Obi the Voicegod, African Born American Made

Obi the Voicegod

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Obi the Voicegod might read like an awkward name in print. But the second you hear him on the microphone, it makes perfect sense. Born Obieze Ebo, the Burlington-based rapper has been blessed with a one-in-a-million baritone, a human subwoofer with a harmonic timbre that cuts through any mix. After years of experimentation in studios and onstage, he has evolved from an interesting new voice into a powerful force in these parts. His latest album, African Born American Made, stands as his proper debut, miles beyond his earlier efforts. It’s also one of the best local hip-hop albums of 2023, period. The album title is pure autobiography. Ebo grew up in Nigeria and arrived in the United States at the age of 19. In a 2022 interview with WOMM-LP the Radiator’s essential local music show “Rocket Shop Radio Hour,” he described himself in those days as “still like a stubborn teen, always trying to get out of the house.” He enrolled at Green Mountain College in Poultney just in time to watch that institution shut down in 2019 — maybe not the best introduction to Vermont, but an honest one. Soon after that, Ebo attended Castleton State College, quickly becoming a vital part of that school’s vibrant music scene. Sadly for us all, things got pretty crazy around then, and by March 2020, Obi the Voicegod found himself in the same situation as everyone else: on lockdown and reassessing his life. In many ways, African Born American Made is the direct result of that period of soul-searching. As he readily admits, Obi was heavily influenced by Travis Scott before he came into his own as an artist. From his early SoundCloud demos to his college EP projects, such as 2021’s Life of the Party, his growth curve has been quick and steep. Far from displaying the lunatic

intensity of Scott, Obi has settled into his own persona — and instrument. As anyone who has seen the artist live can attest, he delivers an impressive range with his baritone register, captivating the crowd with a confident ease. That kind of onstage charisma can be hard to capture, but African Born American Made manages to bottle the lightning for 12 consecutive tracks. The beats are vast and thumping, a hybrid of Afro-Caribbean influences and contemporary trap. Credit goes to producer Profetik, a skilled musician with a huge bag of tricks to keep the listener engaged. In particular, the beat switch in “Sweet Tea Bad Coffee (feat. Fareedwontlose)” is just incredible, on par with anything coming out of Atlanta right now. For all of Obi’s God-given talent, the album’s key ingredient is the artist’s budding mastery of the studio. Knowing

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED: 62

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

how to wield multitracking and effects processing for maximum impact is an art form unto itself, and on songs such as “Ego” and “Ganja Trips,” Obi casts a hypnotic spell. On “Out My Mind (Interlude),” he takes it even further, delivering a tripped-out vocal orchestra that is equal parts Parliament-Funkadelic and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Like his contemporaries in the new wave of Burlington hip-hop artists, Obi crafts songs that have a rich, melodic depth that traditional boom bap seldom attains. What really sets him apart, though, is the gumbo of his influences, as someone who grew up on Afrobeat and Caribbean dancehall and only later became a student of rap music. While purists might object to the pop sheen and trunk-rattling riddims here, remaking the genre in your own image is about as hip-hop as it gets. Besides, it would be a mistake to sleep on Obi’s pen game: His verses are deceptively simple but full of surprises and clever twists. Consider “Do’s and Don’ts (feat. rivan),” a club anthem about maintaining

high personal standards. Simply holding your own with a rapper as nimble and magnetic as rivan is an achievement, but every line of Obi’s verses here is etched in stone, without a syllable out of place. By focusing on the kind of songs that only he would write, he has carved out an exciting new lane for himself. There is nothing to fault here; even the cover art is immaculate. Obi the Voicegod has always shown tremendous promise, but African Born American Made marks the first time his execution has been equal to his ambition. And his ambitions are immense: This is a downright psychedelic album — “a movie,” as the kids say. No matter where life, or a burgeoning music career, takes this young man from here, he has cemented his place as one of the most original and compelling hiphop artists Vermont has ever seen. Long may he reign. African Born American Made by Obi the Voicegod is available on all major streaming platforms.

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

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calendar

JA N UA RY

3 1 - F E B R UA RY

WED.31

Chamber, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 828-0749.

agriculture

fairs & festivals

VERMONT FARM AND FOOD INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER LISTENING SESSIONS: Farmers, foresters and food producers in Caledonia and Lamoille Counties share feedback about their priorities for state and federal funding. Hardwick Municipal Building, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 261-5886.

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Savvy businesspeople make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and beyond. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

dance

FARMERS NIGHT: AN EVENING OF TIBETAN MUSIC AND DANCE: The Tibetan Association of Vermont delights with traditional performances. House

WATERBURY WINTERFEST: Folks enjoy winter activities galore, from snow soccer and wassailing to beer tastings and Dungeons & Dragons. See waterburywinterfest.com for full schedule. See calendar spotlight. Various Waterbury locations, 5-9:30 p.m. Free; fee for some activities; some activities require preregistration. Info, waterbury.winterfest@ gmail.com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘CARMEN’: Aigul Akhmetshina sings the title role in this screening of a timely new Metropolitan Opera production of Georges Bizet’s classic work. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 11 a.m. $12-26. Info, 382-9222. EDITING WITH DAVINCI RESOLVE: Attendees learn how to perfect film footage in a popular program. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692. ‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a journey into the weird, wide world of

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

7 ,

2 0 2 4

mushrooms, which we are only just beginning to understand. 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. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: Viewers learn the true story behind one of our most iconic — and misunderstood — predators. 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; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: Scientists dive into the planet’s least-explored habitat, from its sunny shallows to its alien depths. 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. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: Through the power of special cameras, audiences are transported into the world of the teeniest animals on Earth. 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; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘UNDERDOG’: A Vermont dairy farmer risks everything to pursue his dogsledding dreams in Alaska in this new, locally made documentary. Highland Center

for the Arts, Greensboro, 6:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-6882.

food & drink

WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: Aspiring sommeliers blind-taste four wines from Vermont and beyond. Shelburne Vineyard, noon-6 p.m. $15. Info, 985-8222.

games

THE GREAT JIGSAW PUZZLE RACE: Teams of one to three race to put together 750-piece puzzles to win a gift certificate to Dave’s Cosmic Subs. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent. Listings and spotlights are written by Emily Hamilton. Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

language

environment

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celtic-curious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 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.

québec

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: Snowy nighttime parades, ice canoe races, a snow sculpture garden, live entertainment and an ice palace with stunning views brighten up the cold Canadian winter. Various Québec City locations. $30; free for kids under 12. Info, 418-626-3716.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

theater

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

= ONLINE EVENT

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

INTRODUCTION TO BUTOH CLASS SHOWING: Students perform their final project from a course on a Japanese dance style that celebrates all things playful and absurd. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5412.

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

crafts

health & fitness

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

art

NATURALIST JOURNEYS 2024: AMY BUTLER: The nature educator opines on how time in the outdoors can heal our relationships to the Earth and each other. Live stream available. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-6206.

SEWING (AND QUILTING) TOGETHER: Library staff lead a friendly monthly meetup for needlesmiths. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

climate crisis

VIRTUAL VERMONT TRIVIA: CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: The best of the best test their knowledge of Green Mountain State history, geography, nature and more. Courtesy of the Vermont Historical Society. 7-8 p.m. $5-10; preregister. Info, 828-1414.

sports LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

THU.1

‘CONSTELLATIONS’: Northern Stage actors sparkle in this cosmic romance about a beekeeper, a scientist and the infinite universe of possible futures their love creates. Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30-9 p.m. $19-69. Info, 296-7000.

dance

AN EVENING OF BIRD TALES: Green Mountain Audubon Society staff members regale listeners with tales of their avian adventures. Presented by Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, info@friendsofmissisquoi.org.

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.

fairs & festivals

WATERBURY WINTERFEST: See WED.31, 6-8 p.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘CYRANO DE BERGERAC’: A romantic poet finds himself unlucky in love due to his appearance in this 1950 film adaptation of the classic French drama. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 533-2000. FILM AND MEDIA CULTURE SENIOR PROJECT SCREENING: Nascent auteurs share their final presentations in a variety of media modes. Dana Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3190. ‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.31. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.31. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.31.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.31.

food & drink

ARE YOU THIRSTY, NEIGHBOR?: A special discount cocktail menu sparks conversations and connections over cribbage and cards. Wild Hart Distillery and Tasting Room, Shelburne, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@wildhartdistillery.com. DESTINATION DINNER: FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE: Cheese, sourdough, cassoulet and crêpes delight taste buds. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 5-7 p.m. $6-20; preregister; limited space. Info, 533-2000. FREE WINE TASTING: Themed wine tastings take oenophiles on an adventure through a region, grape variety, style of wine or producer’s offerings. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368.

games

CHESS FOR ALL: All skill levels are welcome at this weekly game session. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 626-5475. DUPLICATE BRIDGE: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game with an extra wrinkle. Waterbury Public Library, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7223.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Semi-fluent speakers practice their skills during a conversazione with others. Best for those who can speak at least basic sentences. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

lgbtq

POP-UP HAPPY HOUR: Locals connect over drinks at a speakeasy-style bar. Hosted by OUT in the 802. Lincolns, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

québec

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: See WED.31.

theater

‘ARTIFICIAL IRRELEVANCE’: Stealing From Work skewers our singularly silly modern era with a slate of sketches. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7:30-8:30 p.m. $17 suggested donation. Info, 355-0360. ‘CONSTELLATIONS’: See WED.31.

FRI.2 crafts

FIRST FRIDAY FIBER GROUP: Fiber-arts fans make progress on projects while chatting over snacks. GRACE, Hardwick, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, info@ruralartsvt.org.

fairs & festivals

SUBARU WINTERFEST: Skiers, music lovers and their canine friends enjoy a day of food, drink and live music by Yonder Mountain String Band FRI.2

» P.66

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

MON.5

FAMILY FUN

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.

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.

chittenden county

READ WITH SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary is super excited to hear kids of all ages practice their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

WED.31

SKYPE A SCIENTIST: SETHANNE HOWARD: STEM-heads of all ages hear from a black hole expert. Virtual option available. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, river@brownelllibrary.org.

burlington

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Kindergarten through 5th grade. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

WEEKLY FREE NATURE PLAYGROUP: Richmond, Huntington and Hinesburg residents up to age 5 encounter the wonders of the great outdoors. Meet at the Education Barn. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3068.

TODDLER TIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones 12 through 24 months. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

BABYTIME: Caregivers and infants from birth through age 1 gather to explore board books and toys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. BUILD A FORT AND READ: Young bookworms build a perfectly cozy reading fortress out of chairs and blankets. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. GAME ON: Kids and teens get together to play video games such as Mario Kart and Overcooked on the library’s Nintendo Switches. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:30 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.

barre/montpelier

CHESS CLUB: Youngsters of all skill levels get one-on-one lessons. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

THU.1

chittenden county

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. Info, 878-4918. PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. STORY TIME: Little ones from birth through age 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

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.

FEB. 4 | FAMILY FUN TUE.6 burlington

Chloe and Lily Holgate

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos 3 and younger to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Games, activities, stories and songs engage 3through 5-year-olds. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

FRI.2

chittenden county

MUSIC TIME!: Little ones sing and dance with local troubadour Linda Bassick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

SAT.3

burlington

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: Kids from birth through age 5 learn and play at this school readiness program. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. LEGO TIME AT THE NNE BRANCH: Kids ages 4 through 11 build blocky creations at the library’s new location. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403. TOAST & JAMS: A2VT: Dad Guild’s family-friendly concert series features live tunes, locally made breakfast bites and nine holes of mini golf. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 318-4231.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

Fiddle Siblings What better time to introduce kids to the joys of chamber music than at a family-friendly, family-performed concert? Capital City Concerts presents an all-ages evening with sister act sybil, also known as Lily and Chloe Holgate. Coming from a family full of Broadway performers, this conservatory-trained duo applies its considerable talents to delicate vocal harmonies, intricate string arrangements, and original settings of poetry and classic folk songs. Fiddle students from Orchard Valley Waldorf School, Montpelier Public Schools and Green Mountain Youth Symphony join sybil onstage.

CAPITAL CITY CONCERTS: SYBIL Sunday, February 4, 1:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier. Free. Info, contact.capitalcityconcerts@gmail.com, capitalcityconcerts.org.

chittenden county

STUPID CUPID — TEEN ANTIVALENTINE’S DAY PARTY: Sixththrough twelfth-graders revel in all things angsty and moody with music, games and snacks. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

TIM JENNINGS: The legendary local folk storyteller delivers an evening of kid-friendly tales and music. Live stream available. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 1-2 p.m. $10. Info, 229-0492.

brattleboro/okemo valley

WINTER SUNSHINE SERIES: One-of-akind family puppet shows let the sunshine in at each of these weekly performances. Sandglass Theater, Putney, 11 a.m.-noon & 2-3 p.m. $8-12. Info, 387-4051.

manchester/ bennington

SNOW DAYS: Hot chocolate and healthy snacks fuel showshoers and cross-country skiers. Prospect Mountain Ski Area, Woodford, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, events@bcbsvt.com.

SUN.4

burlington

MASKS ON! SUNDAYS: Elderly, disabled and immunocompromised folks get the museum to themselves at a masks-mandatory morning. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 864-1848.

barre/montpelier

chittenden county

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Little ones enjoy a cozy session of reading, rhyming and singing. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:3011 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

WED.7

burlington

FAM JAM!: Vermont Folklife hosts a tuneful get-together for musicians of all ages and skill levels. BYO instruments. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:307:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4964. STEAM SPACE: See WED.31. TODDLER TIME: See WED.31.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Parents and caregivers bond with their pre-walking babes during this gentle playtime. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:3011 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. PLAY TIME: See WED.31.

mad river valley/ waterbury

QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youth get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036. TEEN HANGOUT: Middle and high schoolers make friends at a no-pressure meetup. Waterbury Public Library, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. K

CAPITAL CITY CONCERTS: SYBIL: Sisters Lily and Chloe Holgate weave together angelic harmonies and original string music in a family-friendly showing. See calendar spotlight. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 1:30 p.m. Free. Info, contact.capitalcityconcerts@gmail.com. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

calendar FRI.2

« P.64 COURTESY OF GORDON MILLER

and Jeremiah Tall. Killington Resort, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. Info, 800-734-9435. WATERBURY WINTERFEST: See WED.31, 4-9 p.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.31. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.31. ‘MAD RIVER GLEN: A 75-YEAR FELLOWSHIP OF SKIERS’: A documentary celebrates the cooperative ski resort’s diamond anniversary. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 540-3018.

Wednesday, January 31, 5-9:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 1, 6-8 p.m.; Friday, February 2, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, February 3, 9 a.m.7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, February 4, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at various Waterbury locations. Free; fee for some activities; some activities require preregistration. Info, waterbury.winterfest@ gmail.com, waterburywinterfest.com.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.31.

food & drink

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community gather weekly to play games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

FRIDAY NIGHT PIANO: A performance of piano rolls from the from the 1900s through the present — and from ABBA to Led Zeppelin — entertains as audiences eat snacks around the firepit. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 5-10 p.m. Free. Info, info@mainstreetmuseum.org. UVM LANE SERIES: MIKE MARSHALL, DAROL ANGER & EUGENE FRIESEN WITH THE BERKLEE WORLD STRINGS: New acoustic pioneers astound audiences’ ears with influences ranging from folk to jazz and beyond. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $6.50-50.50. Info, 656-4455.

JAN. 31-FEB. 4 | FAIRS & FESTIVALS québec

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: See WED.31.

games

The town of Waterbury transforms into a winter wonderland for Winterfest, a five-day extravaganza of snow sports and family fun. Outdoor activities include sledding, snow soccer, snow volleyball, broomball, bocce, fat-tire bike demos, and a cross-country ski and snowshoe tour along the Little River. In slightly warmer news, singers wassail all over the town, beer and wine tastings tickle adult palettes, friendly competition abounds at a life-size Candyland game and bingo, and trivia teams strut their stuff at an epic game show-style tournament.

WATERBURY WINTERFEST

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.31.

ADVENTURE DINNER STEAKHOUSE POP-UP: Foodies dig into a stampede of nostalgic dishes, including steak tartare, oysters Rockefeller and the dirtiest martinis in town. Peg & Ter’s, Shelburne, 5-9 p.m. Cost of food and drink. Info, 248-224-7539.

All Is Sled and Done

seminars

JOURNALISM COURSE: Veteran freelance reporter Carolyn Shapiro teaches attendees about media literacy and how the local news industry works. Presented by AARP Vermont. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 866-227-7451.

tech

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and more in one-on-one sessions. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘ARTIFICIAL IRRELEVANCE’: See THU.1. ‘CONSTELLATIONS’: See WED.31.

SAT.3 dance

FIRST SATURDAY WESTIE SOCIAL: Beginners, new members and experienced West Coast Swing dancers are welcome. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-10:30 p.m.; lessons, 7 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 488-4789. MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE AND WALTZING: To live tunes and gender-neutral calling, dancers balance, shadow and do-si-do the night away. Capital City Grange, Berlin, special waltz session, 7 p.m.; beginners’ lesson, 7:45 p.m.; contra dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-20. Info, 225-8921.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

‘NOVEL FORMATS: A DIALOGUE (NUMBER ONE)’: Rachel Bernsen choreographs a spontaneous performance at the intersection of dance, music and visual art. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688. ‘SUGAR ON TAP’: Burlesque performers deliver a sultry evening of sass and class. 18 and up. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 8-10 p.m. $20-25. Info, info@greenmountaincabaret.com.

etc.

MEDITATION AND BUDDHIST DISCUSSION: Readings and reflections follow a half hour of mindfulness. Refreshments served. Shambhala Meditation Center, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. Info, 658-6795.

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

food & drink

ADVENTURE DINNER STEAKHOUSE POP-UP: See FRI.2.

fairs & festivals

SUBARU WINTERFEST: See FRI.2, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. WATERBURY WINTERFEST: See WED.31, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. WINTER RENAISSANCE FAIRE: Enthusiasts engage with artisans and crafters while enjoying mead, live demos and more medieval merriment. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m. $5-30; free for kids under 6. Info, 778-9178.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.31. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.31. MEDIA FACTORY ORIENTATION: Once aspiring filmmakers have taken this tour of the studio, they have access to the full suite of gear and facilities. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 651-9692. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.31. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.31. VOICES FROM UKRAINE FILM SERIES: ‘EARTH’: This legendary 1930 silent film tells the story of a collective farm fending off attacks from a resentful landowner. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-3:45 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘JOONAM’: An IranianAmerican Vermonter turns to her mother and grandmother to make sense of her identity in this tender, personal 2023 documentary. Q&A with filmmaker Sierra Urich follows on Saturday. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 p.m. $12-15. Info, 457-2355.

ANNUAL FRENCH CANADIAN MEAT-PIE DINNER: Diners pay homage to Vermont’s Québécois connection with a traditional feast of pea soup, tourtière, mashed potatoes and dessert. Takeout available. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Richmond, 5-6:30 p.m. $15. Info, kk1l@comcast.net. BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Dozens of seasonal stands overflow with produce, artisanal wares and prepared foods. Burlington Beer, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

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. BOARD GAME BRUNCH: The Friendly Tabletop Gamers of Essex and Beyond host a morning game-play session for anyone 18 and up. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY YOGA CLASS: An all-levels session offers a weekly opportunity to relax the mind and rejuvenate the body. Wise Pines, Woodstock, 10-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 432-3126.

holidays

COMMUNITY IMBOLC GATHERING: The Green Mountain Druid Order celebrates the halfway point between the winter

solstice and the spring equinox with a potluck, rituals and a magical outdoor procession honoring the goddess Brigid. Worcester Town Hall, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, audreygilbert31@gmail.com.

lgbtq

STRENGTH IN UNITY: Women and LGBTQ+ folks get the wellness floor to themselves. Greater Burlington YMCA, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $5; free for members. Info, 860-7812.

music

JOSIAH AND THE BONNEVILLES: Audiences appreciate Appalachian Americana at its best and most honest. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7-9 p.m. $75-125. Info, 760-4634. ‘A NIGHT AT BIRDLAND: THE BEBOP YEARS’: Middlebury College professor Miles Donahue curates a vivacious voyage through the work of Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and others. See calendar spotlight. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $25-35. Info, 382-9222. PLAY EVERY TOWN: Prolific pianist David Feurzeig continues a four-year, statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Fairlee Town Hall Auditorium, 2 p.m. Free. Info, playeverytown@gmail.com.

outdoors

MANSFIELD RIDGE: Experienced outdoor enthusiasts tackle a difficult 9-mile snowshoe, gaining 2,600 feet in elevation. Contact trip leader by February 1 for details. Underhill State Park. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 899-9982.

québec

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: See WED.31.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

sports

CURDS AND CURLING: Players sweep a wheel of cheese across the ice while spectators enjoy cheesy treats and gin drinks. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $15-10. Info, 533-2000.

theater

‘ARTIFICIAL IRRELEVANCE’: See THU.1, 4-5 & 7:30-8:30 p.m. ‘CONSTELLATIONS’: See WED.31.

words

FRIENDS OF ILSLEY LIBRARY BOOK SALE: Books of all genres for all ages go on sale, and all proceeds fund library programming. Ilsley Public Library,

crafts

Middlebury, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095. SYLVIA SMITH: An author and percussionist performs rhythmic readings of works by the likes of Wendell Berry and Carolyn Chute. United Church of Strafford, 7-8:15 p.m. Donations. Info, 765-4703.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.31, 1-3 p.m.

fairs & festivals

SUBARU WINTERFEST: See FRI.2, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

FIRST SUNDAYS FLEA & FARMERS MARKET: Antiques and locally made goods populate a bustling, eclectic bazaar. Enosburg Opera House, Enosburg Falls, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 933-6171.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘JOONAM’: See SAT.3.

food & drink

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.31.

health & fitness

WINTER RENAISSANCE FAIRE: See SAT.3.

bazaars

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.31.

WINOOSKI WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Families shop for meat pies, honey, kimchi, bread and prepared foods from more local vendors at an indoor marketplace. O’Brien Community Center, Winooski, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, farmersmarket@downtown winooski.org.

WATERBURY WINTERFEST: See WED.31, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

SUN.4

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.31.

film

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.31.

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, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com. KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, mollyzapp@live.com.

music

JOY CLARK: Lyrical guitar picking, intricate rhythms and soulful lyrics characterize the work of this New Orleans artist. Richmond

Feel the Warmth of a Winter Stay Our beautiful, cozy community is brimming with activity, culture, entertainment and fun - with just the right amount of care. Bid the snow shovel goodbye, and leave the winter worries behind.

Middlebury | 802-231-3645

S. Burlington | 802-489-7627

Congregational Church, 4-6 p.m. $17.50-25. Info, 434-4563. POINTE NOIR CAJUN BAND: The Louisiana dance outfit brings the beats of the bayou to wintertime in Vermont. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 4 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, 279-2236.

outdoors

WILDLIFE TRACKING CLUB: Naturalists teach trackers of all ages how to distinguish the snowy paw prints of coyotes, foxes, minks and more. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6206.

SUN.4

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Interested in a permanent move? Ask about our exclusive Winter incentives.

Shelburne | 802-992-8420

Independent, Assisted & Memory Care Living LCB Senior Living Communities: More than 25 Years of Excellence Untitled-6 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

1/25/24 11:10 AM

calendar SUN.4

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québec

Bebop ’Til You Drop

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: See WED.31.

talks

SUSAN O’CONNELL: A librarian shares her tips and tricks for jet-setting on a budget. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

theater

‘ARTIFICIAL IRRELEVANCE’: See THU.1, 4-5 p.m. ‘CONSTELLATIONS’: See WED.31.

MON.5 film

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

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.31. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.31. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.31.

games

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: Discounted wine by the glass fuels an evening of friendly competition featuring new and classic board games, card games, and cribbage. Shelburne Vineyard, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

language

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING CLUB: Adult speakers of all levels practice their conversation skills in a relaxed setting. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

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 68

Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater transforms into a 1940s jazz club for the latest installment of its House of Jazz performance series. Miles Donahue, a music professor and veteran saxophonist, curates a stunning, swinging evening dedicated to the bebop era and iconic New York City jazz club Birdland. Defined by upbeat tempos, epic improvisations, and the work of iconic composers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and Wynton Marsalis, this retrospective keeps toes tapping all night long. Theater or table seating available; table seats come with one drink voucher.

music

‘A NIGHT AT BIRDLAND: THE BEBOP YEARS’

outdoors

Saturday, February 3, 7:30 p.m., at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. $25-35; cash bar. Info, 382-9222, townhalltheater.org.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.31.

FEB. 3 | MUSIC

learn or improve their fluency. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

answer questions and provide resources. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

LOH@100 HOUSEWARMING PARTY: After five months of renovations, the Upper Valley institution kicks off its centennial celebration with an open house, refreshments and a dance party. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 4:307 p.m. Free; preregister; cash bar. Info, 603-448-0400.

québec

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: See WED.31.

québec

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: See WED.31.

tech

GADGET LAB WITH KYLE: Tech librarian Kyle Creason clears up confusions that patrons may have about their computers, tablets or smartphones. First come, first served. Waterbury Public Library, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

TUE.6

agriculture

CHARLIE NARDOZZI: The award-winning garden writer teaches locals how to repel pests and weeds while still cultivating a sustainable habitat for birds and insects. Stowe Free Library, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

climate crisis

NATURALIST JOURNEYS 2024: RUTH HEINDEL: An environmental studies researcher tells stories from her time on the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. Presented by North Branch Nature Center. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 229-6206.

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

crafts

LEARN TO CROCHET AND KNIT: Novices of all ages pick up a new skill. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

dance

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. Champlain Club, Burlington, beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m.; dance 7:30-9 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.31. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.31. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.31. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.31.

food & drink

COOKBOOK CLUB: Readers choose a recipe from The Vegan Chinese Kitchen: Recipes and Modern Stories from a ThousandYear-Old Tradition by Hannah Che to cook and share with the group. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:306:45 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

language

MANDARIN CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

words

JON CHO-POLIZZI: The translator discusses his work on the English version of Ghanaian-BritishGerman author Sharon Dodua Otoo’s novel Ada’s Room. Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

WED.7 activism

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA (DAARA) MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779- 9021.

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.31. WHAT’S YOUR WORTH? WITH MARKEY READ: A business coach teaches female entrepreneurs how to set prices that reflect their work’s true value. Presented by Women Business Owners Network Vermont. 8:30-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 503-0219.

community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM: Representatives post up in the main reading room to

crafts

JEWELRY MAKING WITH CASEY: Crafty folks string beads together to create teardrop earrings. Ages 7 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.31.

film

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

SOFIA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: The national orchestra of Bulgaria, including award-winning violin soloist Liya Petrova, astound audiences with virtuosic renditions of Mozart. Lyndon Institute, Lyndon Center, 7 p.m. $26-58; free for students. Info, 748-2600. ‘THIS IS AMERICA: PART II’: Violinist Johnny Gandelsman performs works commissioned by the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7 p.m. $1020. Info, 387-0102.

WORKING WOODLANDS: THE INS AND OUTS OF TRAIL CAMS: Kyle Burton of the National Park Service explains how to use cameras to get a glimpse of secretive and skittish creatures. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, savannah_spannaus@partner.nps. gov.

politics

BURLINGTON MAYORAL MATCHUP 2024: Progressive Emma Mulvaney-Stanak and Democrat Joan Shannon dig into their visions for the Queen City. Moderated by Sasha Goldstein of Seven Days. Virtual options available. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, katie@sevendaysvt.com.

québec

QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL: See WED.31.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.31.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.31.

PEDAL PARABLES: Cyclists share tales from the trail at a bikethemed open mic. Old Spokes Home, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. $10-25 suggested donation; preregister. Info, jon@oldspokeshome. com.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.31.

theater

‘CARMEN’: See WED.31. Star Theatre of St. Johnsbury, 11 a.m. $16-25. Info, 748-2600.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.31. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.31.

food & drink

WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: See WED.31.

health & fitness CHAIR YOGA: See WED.31.

language

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.31. ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.31. SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by

‘CONSTELLATIONS’: See WED.31.

words

FARMERS NIGHT: KEKLA MAGOON: The National Book Award finalist discusses her acclaimed book, Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People. House Chamber, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 828-0749. GENNAROSE NETHERCOTT: The acclaimed Vermont author behind Thistlefoot celebrates the publication of her short story collection Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350. ➆

Point your kids' compass toward FUN next summer!

Let Kids VT lead the way. save the date:

Saturday, February 10, 2024 10 A.M.-2 P.M. BURLINGTON HILTON

FREE ADMISSION! REGISTER AT: CAMPFINDERVT.COM PRESENTED BY:

OUR 27th year!

The Fair is a great opportunity to:

SCIENCE

OUTDOORS ARTS

GYMNASTICS EDUCATION

ANIMALS SPORTS k1t-CampFair111523.indd 1

Discover dozens of great regional summer camps and schools. Connect with representatives and get your questions answered. Get all your research and planning done in one day and have fun, too.

Scan the code to visit the Vermont camp and School Finder!

Do you run a camp or class?

Contact Kaitlin Montgomery for more info about exhibiting at the fair and getting listed on campfindervt.com:

kaitlin@kidsvt.com 802-985-5482, ext. 142

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

11/10/23 10:01 AM

CLASS PHOTOS + MORE INFO ONLINE SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $16.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

business THE DILEMMA OF RETIREMENT INCOME: This talk is open to the public. We have witnessed time and again that Vermonters nearing retirement are facing some challenges. Come hear from local experts as well as academics and professionals from around the country on the complex topic of retirement financing. Wed., Feb. 21, 3:45 p.m. Location: South Burlington Library, 180 Market St. Info: 802-825-1976, sevendaystickets. com.

culinary BRUNCH CLASS FEATURING COOKING WITH STEPHANIE: Join Janina of Red Poppy Cakery and special guest Chef Stephanie for a delicious experience. We will learn how to make the perfect pie crust for a savory galette or rustic breakfast pie to pair with a French toast bread pudding that will make brunch easy and delicious! Sun., Apr. 14, 9 a.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Ste. 1, Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-4000700, sevendaystickets.com. CACIO E PEPE & AMARETTI COOKIES: Join Janina of Red Poppy Cakery and special guest Chef Stephanie from Cooking with Stephanie for a delicious experience. Learn how to make fresh pasta served in the Roman specialty with cheese and black pepper. We’ll finish the night with a sweet treat of almond amaretti cookies! Fri., Mar. 15, 6 p.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Ste. 1, Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: Red Poppy Cakery, 203-400-0700, janina@ redpoppycakery.net, sevendaystickets.com. EFFORTLESS ROMANCE: EASY DATE-NIGHT DINNER: In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how easy it can be to build a romantic date-night dinner that makes your beloved feel cared for and nourished. Along the way, you’ll gain the practical skills and techniques that you’ll need to become a Kitchen Casanova. Sat., May 4, 5 p.m. Cost: $150. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, sevendaystickets.com.

ETHIOPIAN/ERITREAN COOKING CLASS: Learn simple techniques to prepare ethnic food that is rich in flavor. Ethiopian/Eritrean cooking relies on a diverse range of herbs and roots to develop characteristics quintessential to the cuisine. In this hands-on class, we’ll make three dishes that will be served with Injera, a spongy sourdough flatbread. Fri., Jun. 7, 6 p.m. Cost: $60. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, sevendaystickets.com. FRENCH MACARONS 101: Learn the art and science behind making French macarons. Elizabeth will teach you how to make macaron shells, plus demonstrate how to make popular fillings. Get hands-on experience making and filling macarons and go home with step-by-step instructions, including the recipe, troubleshooting guide, equipment list and approximately two dozen macarons! Sat., Apr. 13, 1 p.m. Cost: $90. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, sevendaystickets.com.

THE BASICS OF CAKE DECORATING: Learn the basics of filling, crumb-coating, getting nice smooth edges and some rosette piping. You’ll take home great new techniques plus a six-inch cake that serves 12. You can select your flavor! Glutenfree, vegan or both are available. Please disclose allergies when registering. Thu., Feb. 15 or Fri., Mar. 22, 6 p.m. Cost: $12-85. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Ste. 1, Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

workshops/mo. Location: SafeArt, 292 Route 110, Chelsea, & online. Info: Cleopatra Griffin, 802-6853138, info@safeart.org, safeart.org.

music TAIKO & DJEMBE CLASSES: Taiko, Tue. & Thu.; Djembe, Wed., starting Feb. 6. Drop-ins welcome. Kids & Parents Taiko, Tue. & Thu., 4-5:30 p.m. Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m. Accelerated Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. 4-week classes. World Drumming on Wed.: Kids & Parents, 4-5:30 p.m. Adult Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m. Conga Beginners, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Location: Taiko Studio, 208 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Info: Stuart, 802-9994255, classes@burlingtontaiko. org.

VALENTINE’S SUGAR COOKIE DECORATING: Have you ever wanted to learn how to decorate cookies? This class is the perfect introduction to decorating cookies with royal icing! No experience necessary. You will learn how to decorate, outline and flood cookies; get the icing consistency right; and add dimensions to your cookies. Tue., Feb. 13, 6 p.m. Cost: $65. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Ste. 1, Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-4000700, sevendaystickets.com.

healing arts RECONNECTING: Reconnecting: A Yearlong Journey of Creativity, Healing & Community is a program designed for anyone — caregivers, changemakers, creatives — who wish to heal and facilitate change within themselves and their communities. We will engage in pottery, creative writing, intuitive painting and more! Hybrid with Zoom workshops and in-person retreats. Sliding scale & scholarships available! 2nd & last Mon. of the mo. starting Feb. 26, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $75/2 2-hour

language JAPANESE LANGUAGE CLASSES: Interested in Japanese culture or traveling to Japan? Love learning new languages? The Japan America Society of Vermont will offer interactive, online Japanese language classes starting in February. Please join us for an introduction to speaking, listening, reading and writing Japanese, with emphasis on conversational patterns used in everyday life. Weekly, 7-8:30 p.m., starting the week of Feb. 19. Level 1: Wed. Level 2: Mon. Level 3: Tue. Cost: $200/1.5 hour class/week for 10 weeks. Location: Online. Info: 802-865-9985, jasv.org/v2/ language.

transformative power of change. Wed., Feb. 21, 4 p.m. Cost: $5-25. Location: Online. Info: 802-8258141, sevendaystickets.com. LIVING WITH LOSS: A GATHERING FOR THE GRIEVING: During Living with Loss: A Gathering for the Grieving, we will explore how ritual, connection and community help us through times of loss. This gathering is an opportunity for those who have experienced loss to find connection through meditation, ritual and community sharing. Wed., Feb. 7, 4 p.m. Cost: $5-25. Location: Online. Info: 802-8258141, sevendaystickets.com.

UKULELE VALENTINE: This lighthearted, live online course gets you in to mood for singing, laughter, love, and friendship with other ukulelians just in time for Valentine’s Day! Learn ukulele technique to add color and dimension to songs and improve your skills. Geared for people who have a relatively steady strum and some knowledge of basic chords. Tue., Jan. 30-Feb. 13, 6 p.m. Cost: $30. Location: Online. Info: ukuleleclare@gmail.com, sevendaystickets.com.

well-being FACING CHANGE: TRANSITIONS & TRANSFORMATIONS: From the joys of births and weddings to the sorrows of death, illness, and divorce to grappling with relocation, family struggles, identity issues, job changes, trauma and loss, change can leave us feeling unmoored and powerless. Facing Change is a small-group experience focusing on embracing the

martial arts AIKIDO: THE WAY OF HARMONY: Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. The dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Inclusive training and a safe space for all. Visitors welcome! Beginner’s classes 4 days a week. Membership rates incl. unlimited classes. Contact

Say you saw it in...

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Benjamin Pincus, 802-9518900, bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.

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

= TICKETED CLASS

sevendaysvt.com

COURTESY OF KELLY SCHULZE/MOUNTAIN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY

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APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES

on the road »

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pro services »

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APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE

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Humane

Amber AGE/SEX: 3-year-old spayed female ARRIVAL DATE: January 11, 2024 SUMMARY: This gorgeous girl is super social and loves attention but still manages to be pretty mellow and not too demanding. She would love a home where she can enjoy a nice mellow day without many interruptions of her catnaps — unless it’s for cuddles, treats and catnip! The practical stuff is important for her, too: Amber is a plump lady, so she needs a family who can help her slim down to a healthier size with a consistent diet. If you think Amber could be the one for you, come visit her at HSCC!

Society of Chittenden County

DID YOU KNOW?

Just like with humans, obesity in cats can lead to other health problems such as arthritis and diabetes. For overweight feline friends, slow and steady weight loss is key to preventing future issues. If you have a husky cat at home, we recommend following up with your vet to discuss a long-term weight-loss plan. Sponsored by:

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Amber previously lived with cats, dogs and kids. We think she would prefer to find a home where she can be the only cat; she may do well in a home with respectful dogs and children. Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

CLASSIFIEDS front porch, shared back porch. BA w/ tube shower, extra storage space. Call Joe at 802-318-8916.

on the road

CARS/TRUCKS 2010 GMC TERRAIN SLT No rust, loaded, 6-cylinder. New brakes, new rocker panels. Inspected through Aug. Asking $5,000. Photos upon request. Call or text 802-355-4099 for more details.

housing

FOR RENT ROOMY 3-BR AVAIL. NOW Good-size living room, 3 good-size BRs, small

HOUSEMATES HOMESHARE NEAR DOWNTOWN BTV Share attractive Burlington home walkable to downtown w/ gentleman & his 2 delightful kids. Help every other week (flexible schedule) w/ evening meal prep, fun activities, occasional driving. $500/ mo. Private BA. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO. PRIVACY & AMAZING VIEWS Rural Fairfax home w/ attractive views shared w/ upbeat senior gentleman. Spacious private LR, BR, BA. $650/mo. + cooking 1-2 meals/ week. Will consider a well-behaved pet! AWD needed to navigate road in winter. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application.

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

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

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.

LAND

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 x115

PREVIEW: TUES., FEB. 6 - 11AM-1PM

DISCOVER OXYGEN THERAPY Try Inogen portable oxygen concentrators. Free information kit. Call 866-859-0894. (AAN CAN)

Silver plate, jewelry, fine china, fine art, antique furniture and much more! MANCHESTER, VT LOCATION

LOCKSMITH 24/7 We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & running quickly! Also, key reproductions, lock installs & repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for your home, commercial & auto locksmith needs! 1-833-237-1233. (AAN CAN)

(1556) ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

AUCTION CLOSES: TUES., FEB. 13 @ 10AM

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

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

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ANSWERS ON P.74 ★ = MODERATE ★★ = CHALLENGING ★★★ = HOO, BOY!

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Legal Notices STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 24-PR-00149 In re ESTATE of Karen Mullen NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Karen Mullen, late of Colchester

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

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

Executor/Administrator: David Kirby, c/o Brian Creech, Esq., 346 Shelburne Rd, Suite 603, Burlington, VT 05402 Phone Number: 802-863-9603 Email: bcreech@dkzlegal.com

Dated: January 23, 2024 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa L. Slater

Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511, 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05402

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/31/2024 Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511, 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05402-0511 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:23-PR-06096 In re ESTATE of Robert Larmay

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

Dated: January 23, 2024 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ David Kirby

Executor/Administrator: James D. Mullen, c/o Launa L. Slater, Wiener & Slater, PLLC 110 Main Street, Suite 4F, Burlington, VT 05401 Phone Number: 802-863-1836 Email: launa@wsvtlaw.com

To the creditors of: Margaret Damm Roland, late of Richmond, Vermont

Dated: January 18, 2024 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ David M Sunshine, Esq. Executor/Administrator: David M Sunshine, Esq., c/o Laura E. Gorsky, PO Box 471, Richmond, VT 05477 Phone Number: 802-434-3796 Email: david@vtsunlaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/31/2024

The Alburgh Family Clubhouse is soliciting proposals from qualified Construction Managers for the construction of a new Childcare Facility, in Alburgh, Vermont. The project scope includes the construction of a category 5B, 4,542 square foot building, septic system, parking area, and natural playground. This project is subject to the Build America Buy America Act, and Davis Bacon wage rate requirements. Proposals are due at 4pm on February 12th, 2024. Please contact Natty Jamison, Owner’s Representative, at 802-9994764 or natty@pcivt.com to express interest and request the project documentation.

To the creditors of: Robert Larmay late of Colchester, Vermont

In re ESTATE of Margaret Damm Roland NOTICE TO CREDITORS

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All

In Re: R.T.

Elizabeth F. Novotny 1/18/2024 Superior Court Judge Date

PROPOSED STATE RULES

Dated: 01/24/2024

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.

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4 9 8 6 1 3 5 2 7 SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 22-JV-1210

To the creditors of: Roger Fuller, late of Georgia, Vermont.

PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM P.73

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Unit – Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 17 Church St., St. Albans, VT 05478

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In re ESTATE of Roger Fuller

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: January 31, 2024

TO: Ashley Thibault, mother of R.T., you are hereby notified that a hearing to terminate your parental rights to R.T. will be held on February 20, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Family Division, at 32 Cherry Street, Suite 200, Burlington, Vermont 05401. You are notified to appear in connection with this case. Failure to appear at this hearing may result in termination of your parental rights to R.T. The State is represented by the Attorney General’s Office, HC 2 North, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2080. Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d)

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:23-PR-07014

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:23-PR-05041

Executor/Administrator: David Fuller c/o Geraldine E. Stewart Jarrett | Hoyt, 1795 Williston Road, Suite 125, South Burlington, VT 05403 Phone Number: 802-864-5951 Email: gerry@vtelaw.com

NOTICE OF HEARING

Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511, 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05402

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ David Fuller

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). ----VPharm Coverage. Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P003 AGENCY: Agency of Human Services CONCISE SUMMARY: This proposed rulemaking amends VPharm rule 5450 titled “Coverage” which establishes coverage for the VPharm program. This VPharm Coverage rule was last amended effective February 25, 2012. This amendment aligns with federal and state guidance and law, improves clarity, and makes technical corrections. Certain content, such as 5450.1 Rebate or Price Discount, has been removed as it was redundant with language that exists in state statute. Substantive revisions include: expanding drug coverage available under VPharm 2 and VPharm 3 to be equivalent to the drug coverage available under VPharm 1 and the Medicaid program, as authorized through Vermont’s Global Commitment to Health 1115 Demonstration waiver effective July 1, 2022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Ashley Berliner, Department of Vermont Health Access, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1000 Tel: 802-578-9305 Fax: 802-241-0450 E-Mail: ahs. medicaidpolicy@vermont.gov URL: https://

humanservices.vermont.gov/rules-policies/ health-care-rules. FOR COPIES: Danielle Fuoco, Department of Vermont Health Access, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1000 Tel: 802-585-4265 Fax: 802-241-0450 E-Mail: danielle.fuoco@vermont. gov. ----Rules Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals, Including Livestock and Poultry. Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P004 AGENCY: Agriculture, Food & Markets CONCISE SUMMARY: This is an update to the existing importation rules for livestock and poultry. The rule outlines the documentation and disease testing requirements to import cattle/ bison, equine, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, ratites, psittacine birds, camelids, and cervids from the US 50 States and Canada. Disease epidemiology and testing have changed, this update addresses the significant diseases of concerns and the tests required to reasonably demonstrate free status. This update aligns the rule with USDA disease programs, modern technology, and the disease traceability standards set by Vermont statutes. Examples of the changes: current USDA brucellosis program standards are eliminating the Class A-C language for describing state status and has increased the age recommendation for swine testing from four months to six months of age. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Kaitlynn Levine, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620, Tel: 802-636-7144 Email: AGR.FSCPRule@ vermont.gov URL: https://agriculture.vermont. gov/rule-governing-importation-livestock-andpoultry-rule-98074. FOR COPIES: Kristin Haas, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620, Tel: 802-522-7326 Email: AGR.FSCPRule@vermont.gov. ----Private Nonmedical Institution Rules Simplification. Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P005 AGENCY: Agency of Human Services CONCISE SUMMARY: These rules strike all existing Division of Rate Setting rules and replace them in the Agency of Human Services’ Health Care Administrative Rules. Some material, particularly language regarding which costs are allowable and how the Division applies various bonuses or penalties, is moved into a new manual. The remaining material primarily sets out the administrative process for applying for, receiving, and appealing per diem rates set by the Division. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: James LaRock, Department of Vermont Health Access, NOB 1 South, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-241-0251 Fax: 802-241-0260 Email: james.larock@vermont.gov URL:https://humanservices.vermont. gov/rules-policies/health-care-rules/ health-care-administrative-rules-hcar. FOR COPIES: Jaime Mooney, Department of Vermont Health Access NOB 1 South, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-798-2144 Fax: 802- 241-0260 Email: jaime.mooney@vermont.gov. ----Nursing Home Reimbursement Rule Simplification. Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P006 AGENCY: Agency of Human Services CONCISE SUMMARY: These rules strike all existing Division of Rate Setting rules and replace them in the Agency of Human Services’ Health Care Administrative Rules. Some material, particularly language regarding which costs are allowable and how the Division applies various bonuses or penalties, is moved into a new manual. The remaining material primarily sets out the administrative process for applying for, receiving, and appealing per diem rates set by the Division.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: James LaRock, Department of Vermont Health Access, NOB 1 South, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-241-0251 Fax: 802-241-0260 Email: james. larock@vermont.gov URL: https://humanservices. vermont.gov/rules-policies/health-care-rules/ health-care-administrative-rules-hcar.

1. Consent Agenda: Jeremy & Samantha Gerber, 57 Osgood Hill Road, are proposing to subdivide their 9.02-acre lot into two (2) parcels. Lot 1 is proposed at 5.94 acres and Lot 2 is proposed at 3.08-acres. The property is located in the Agricultural/ Residential (AR) and Floodplain Overlay (C2) Districts. Parcel ID:2/015/029/001.

FOR COPIES: Jaime Mooney, Department of Vermont Health Access NOB 1 South, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-798-2144 Fax: 802-241-0260 Email: jaime.mooney@vermont.gov. ----General Assistance Temporary Housing Assistance. Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P007

2. Preliminary Plan- Pinewood Holdings, LLC, c/o Brian Marcotte, proposed a 33-Unit Planned Unit Development-Residential (PUD-R), consisting of 18 single-family homes on individual lots; 15-triplex units on footprint lots and an approximate 88-acre open space lot for property located at 18 & 30 Timberland Drive (parcel IDs 2-084-001-000 and 2-085-001-001) and consists of 117-acres in the Medium Density Residential (R2) Zone.

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services, Department for Children and Families CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed rule contains four amendments to the General Assistance program rules: (1) language was added to rule 2650 authorizing DCF to withhold payments to hotels/motels in violation of lodging licensing rules;(2) the rule expands categorical eligibility for 28 days of housing under rule 2652.3 to include families with children who are 19 years old or younger; (3) the rule updates the basic needs standard chart in rule 2652.4 to align with the current Reach Up basic needs dollar amounts; and (4) the methodology for calculating the 30% income contribution in rule 2652.4 was changed from using the least expensive daily motel rate to either the current daily rate at the motel in which the temporary housing applicant is staying or if the applicant is not currently housed in a motel, the average daily rate.

3. Sketch Plan-Alan French is proposing a new conventional 9-lot residential subdivision, with 7 lots served by individual driveways connected to Chapin and Colonel Page Roads and 2 lots served by a shared driveway located at 60 Colonel Page Road, Parcel ID 2-010-071-000, located in the Low Density Residential (R1) Zone and Scenic Resource Preservation Overlay (SRPO) District. View application materials at https://www.essexvt. org/182/Current-Development Applications. Please call 802-878-1343 or email CommunityDevelopment@Essex.org with any questions. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. View complete Agenda at https://essexvt. portal.civicclerk.com. TOWN OF JERICHO PUBLIC HEARING BUDGET & CAPITAL BUDGET

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Heidi Moreau, Agency of Human Services, Department for Children and Families 280 State Drive, NOB 1 North, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-595-9639 Email: heidi.moreau@vermont.gov URL: https:// dcf.vermont.gov/esd/laws-rules/current.

On Thursday, February 1st at 6:30 pm, the Selectboard will hold a public hearing to solicit comments on the proposed FY25 Budget & Capital Budget. The public is invited to attend and offer comments on the proposed budget. Copies may be viewed on the Towns website at www.jerichovt.org.

FOR COPIES: Amanda Beliveau, Agency of Human Services, Department for Children and Families 280 State Drive, HC 1 South, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-241-0641 Email: amanda.beliveau@vermont. gov.

Join via zoom meeting online: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/86185672762?pwd=VjdJTFA2ak1rN080 Z00zeDhnSnBmQT09 Join by Phone: +1 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 861 8567 2762 Password: 718233

CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC MEETING FEBRUARY 15, 2024 6:30 P.M. This meeting will be held in person at 2 Lincoln Street in the conference room and remotely. The meeting will be live-streamed on Town Meeting TV. • JOIN ONLINE: Click here to join meeting: https:// us06web.zoom.us/j/83925990985?pwd=YlhlRG4v VW4veXp1TmllWkdsUEY1Zz09#success Visit www.essexjunction.org for meeting connection information. • JOIN CALLING: Join via conference call (audio only): Dial 1(888) 788-0099 (toll free) Meeting ID: 839 2599 0985 Passcode: 940993 PUBLIC MEETING Conceptual site plan to convert an existing duplex into a tri-plex with two additional parking spaces at 4 Church Street in the MF3 District by John Giroux, owner. This DRAFT agenda may be amended. TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FEBRUARY 8, 2024 @6:00 P.M. Hybrid & In Person (Municipal Conference Room, 81 Main St., Essex, VT) Meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following Zoom link: https:// www.essexvt.org/1043/Join-Zoom-MeetingEssex-PC; Call (audio only): 1-888-788-0099 | Meeting ID: 923 7777 6158 # | Passcode: 426269; Public wifi is available at the Essex municipal offices, libraries, and hotspots listed here: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/ public-wifi-hotspots-vermont

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STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:23-PR-07605 In re ESTATE of Robert Morris NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Robert Morris, late of Essex Junction. I have been appointed to administer this estate.All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice.The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: January 29, 2024 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Mary L. Morris Executor/Administrator: Mary L. Morris, 7 Beech St., Essex Junction, VT 05452 phone number: 802-488-0833 email: marymo1432@gmail.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: January 31, 2024 Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511, 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05402

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ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: PRINT DEADLINE: FOR RATES & INFO:

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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The Flynn is looking for an Education Programs Manager to join our team and support our arts education and community engagement programs. Excellent communication skills, experience in arts education, and enthusiasm for the arts required. For the full description please visit our website: flynnvt.org/About-Us/Employment-andInternship-Opportunities.

Work 8-16 hours per week at the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes, VT. Hours flexible but no evenings or weekend work available. You choose amount of hours per week. Remote work a possibility. Please call Dan W. Hauben ASAP at 888-552-1660.

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

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Join our non-profit senior living community leadership team to chart medium- and long-term plans for EastView’s strategic growth. EastView at Middlebury (Middlebury, VT) is seeking an experienced project development professional to support EastView in advancing its solid financial and cultural foundations through a series of smart growth priorities. This Full-time Leadership position will initially focus on 3 areas: • Profit & Loss management – developing market-based revenue growth initiatives and identifying operational cost efficiencies • Collaborative affiliations or partnerships – leading an exploration of win/win relationships

Email materials to: HResources@flynnvt.org.

• Expansion – advancing smart-growth options to expand both the capacity of the community and services provided.

No phone calls, please. E.O.E.

For full description & to apply go to: bit.ly/EastViewMiddleburyDIRSI.

8/26/21 5:17 PM

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Shared Living Provider For a 24-year-old young woman

Human Resources Assistant $23-26/hour, DOQ This is a full-time administrative position responsible for providing comprehensive and efficient human resource support and services to the Town of Shelburne employees. The HR Assistant will be responsible for recruitment and onboarding, records management, benefits administration, HR reporting, training and development, and other HR related projects. We are looking for a self-motivated problem solver who is resourceful and organized with excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. We are excited to shape this position to the skills and interest of the right person who will be energized by working in the public sector. The Town of Shelburne offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package. Visit shelburnevt.org/jobs to see full job description and employment application. To apply, submit application and resume to Susan Cannizzaro at scannizzaro@shelburnevt.org. The Town of Shelburne is an equal opportunity employer.

Seeking in home support for a 24-year-old young woman in her first apartment in the Old North End of Burlington. She needs support with cooking, cleaning, household tasks and attending appointments. This individual does not have supervision needs but staying in her apartment nightly is required. This individual has a great sense of humor, is very outgoing and enjoys socializing. An ideal candidate would have excellent inter-personal skills and a willingness to learn on the job. Rent and annual stipend included. If interested, please call or text (802) 782-1588 with a summary of your experience.

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500

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Shared Living Provider 69-year-old woman Seeking a gentle/thoughtful Shared Living Provider willing to provide complete personal care and special care procedures for a 69-year-old woman. An accessible home will best meet her needs and we are willing to help with this. She enjoys watching her favorite shows, music, and the companionship of people. Compensation: Annual stipend of $37,724 plus room and board. Call (802)989-1075 or e-mail avernon@howardcenter.org with interest.

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500

New GRAD RN program helps ensure success! Kick-start your nursing career at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) with our innovative Nurse Residency Program. Designed for passionate new grads, the program offers wrap-a-round support for long-term career excellence. Beginning in summer 2024, full-time positions will be available in departments such as Med Surg, Emergency and more. Applicants need a Vermont or multi-state RN licenses, BLS certification, and to be a graduate of an accredited nursing program. Program pillars include Leadership, Patient Outcomes, and Professional Roles. New grads are provided daily support and collaborative guidance. Join NVRH for competitive compensation, benefits, and a supportive environment where patients, community and employees thrive. St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Apply now at www.nvrh.org/careers.

Grocery Assistant Manager & Manager on Duty Our ideal candidate will ensure a high standard of prompt, friendly, efficient and helpful customer service, maintain retail areas, and effectively oversee the operations of the Grocery Department. Our coop offers competitive pay and benefits and the opportunity to join an outstanding management team. Hunger Mountain Co-op is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Visit: hungermountain.coop

HOMEBUYER EDUCATION Recruiting for Spring and Summer Positions: end of service August 30th vhcb.org/americorps

Assistant Coach of Women’s Lacrosse

Half Time

• Living & Housing Allowance of $15,565 for 6-month term • Education Award of $3,447.50 • Health insurance • Training opportunities • Leadership development

Quarter Time

• Living & Housing Allowance of $8,080 for 12-week term • Education Award of $1,824.07 • Health insurance • Training opportunities • Leadership development

Vermont Compost Co. in Montpelier is hiring! We are seeking a Fulfillment Crew Member to join our team. A leading compost & potting soil producer for over 30 years, we provide a fun and dynamic environment. Staff enjoy competitive wages and a generous benefits package. Visit our website for more information: VermontCompost.com/Careers

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The Department of Athletics at Saint Michael’s College invites applications for the Women’s Lacrosse Assistant Coach position. This position will support the Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach in all aspects of running a collegiate program including the support of developing a year-round training program, working independently with student-athletes, and recruiting prospective student-athletes. Required qualifications include having at least 4 years of collective experience in coaching or collegiate (or higher) sport participation and the ability to successfully pass a driving record check. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCDSMP.

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

78 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Navigate New Possibilities™ Your Career at NDI is Waiting

Project Manager

At NDI we are driven by our belief that advanced spatial measurement solutions can help our customers in their aim to improve medical procedures and patient lives.

Full descriptions and to apply: bit.ly/NDIfall2022

Common Ground Center is a nonprofit, multi-age arts, education, and outdoor recreation center in Starksboro, VT. We are dedicated to environmental sustainability and strengthening diverse families and communities.

Summer Camp Kitchen Coordinator:

The Kitchen Coordinator will be responsible for oversight of the CGC kitchen during camp programs. This includes food and ordering, kitchen management, and upholding safety standards for vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian camps. Compensation: $1000/week. Potential for housing. Meals included.

Lead Site Caretaker:

Common Ground Center hosts camps, weddings, conferences & retreats year-round. Our Lead Site Caretaker plays an integral role and provides general maintenance of our 700-acre site, including various buildings and equipment. This position requires good communication, leadership skills, physical strength, stamina, and a great work ethic. Pay Range: $23-25 per hour, based on experience.

Executive Assistant Seeking Executive Assistant. Fulfills the mission of Norwich University by managing administrative functions within the Office of the Provost to include support of the Provost and Associate Provosts. Apply online:

bit.ly/NorwichExecAsst2024

Housekeeping Staff:

CGC Housekeepers are at the heart of the success of our programs and rentals. This position requires physical strength, stamina, an eye for detail, and a great work ethic. CGC Housekeepers clean during programs and flip spaces in between events. Hours vary seasonally with the bulk of events taking place from February - October. We strive to use eco-friendly cleaning products in all of our facilities. Starting rate: $17-19 per hour, based on experience. For full job descriptions and to apply: cgcvt.org/about-us/employment.

Tree Crew Foreperson

The Town of Stowe Electric Department is seeking a Tree Crew Foreperson to lead our three-person tree crew. This role is responsible for providing clear and effective leadership, technical advice, and guidance to the tree crew, ensuring the safe removal of trees and brush near and around high voltage power lines. These responsibilities are vital to our ability to provide safe and reliable electricity in an efficient manner. Must understand and be capable of training others in basic and advanced rigging techniques. Climbing experience and a valid Vermont CDL are required. $35-$40 per hour.

First or Second Class Lineworker The Town of Stowe Electric Department is seeking a Certified 1st Class or 2nd Class Lineworker to join our team of highly skilled professionals.

This role is responsible for ensuring customers receive safe and reliable electricity in an efficient manner. Tasks include working on de-energized and energized lines utilizing rubber glove practices in all scenarios. A valid Vermont CDL is required. $49.28/hour First Class/$40.90/hour Second Class. Benefits include: • 6 Weeks PTO After First Year • Low-Cost Health Insurance/Employer-Provided Dental • $100k Life Insurance • 401(a) & 457(b) Retirement Plans • Excellent Work Environment View full job description at StoweElectric.com/jobs.

Center for Learning & Leadership (CLL) Administrative Specialist The Vermont Network seeks an experienced administrator who is detail oriented and a systems thinker with a desire to use their skills to support building a world where all people can thrive. The CLL Administrative Specialist will provide administrative, logistic and technical support to the Vermont Network’s new Center for Learning and Leadership on Gender-Based Violence. The CLL Administrative Specialist will work closely with the Director of Finance, Center Director and other staff in supporting various leadership and training initiatives from the ground up. The ideal candidate for this position is highly self-motivated, energized by building new systems, has impeccable collaboration skills and thrives in a highly collaborative environment working with others toward common goals. The Vermont Network is a purpose driven organization working to uproot the causes of violence to support all people to thrive and we welcome candidates who share this horizon and encourage people from marginalized groups and communities to apply. We prioritize the wellbeing of our staff, take our culture seriously, think big and orient towards what is possible. All positions are hybrid Waterbury and Home Office. For more information and the full job description, visit our website at vtnetwork.org. Send cover letter and resume to Jamie Carroll at jamie@vtnetwork.org by February 9, 2024.

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“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only imagine how many job connections she has facilitated for local companies in the 20 years she has been doing this.” CAROLYN ZELLER Intervale Center, Burlington

Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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Cleaning Crew ($24/hr after 60 days) We’re looking for a extremely organized and detail oriented rockstar to join our Cleaning Crew! We are a values-driven company with a focus on excellence, cultivating and supporting vibrant communities, and having fun. This position is responsible for keeping our buildings in clean and orderly condition which in turn elevates the Lawson’s Finest customer experience. bit.ly/LawsonsJob

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

Explore opportunities like:

Senior Instructional Designer (Remote)

Audio Visual and Operations Assistant Visit jobs.plattsburgh. edu & select “View Current Openings” SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA employer committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.

Are you passionate about making a difference? Wake Robin is seeking enthusiastic individuals in all departments to join our vibrant community! We are currently HIRING:

Health Services: Staff Nurse (RN, LPN), Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNA)

champlain.edu/careers Scan code for more information.

Environmental Services: Housekeepers & Security

Shared Living Provider 18-year-old man Seeking a Shared Living Provider(s) for a caring, outgoing 18-year-old man who enjoys playing video games, listening to music, and sports. The right provider(s) will be understanding role model(s), providing clear communication, structure, and routine within a supportive environment. This individual uses the bus system to get around and enjoys being around people. Provider(s) with dogs are a plus! Two providers, or one provider with abundant availability, is preferred. Compensation: $60,000 tax-free annual stipend plus room & board. Interested candidates contact Sara at shanlon@howardcenter.org.

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500

Executive Director HatchSpace is a vibrant community woodworking shop in Brattleboro, Vermont that is growing quickly and experiencing an exciting time of transition. The organization seeks a highly energetic executive to lead us through our next phase of growth. In early 2024 our current executive director will transition into a new role within the organization and the board of directors seeks to fill the position with their successor. Could that be you? Salary range is $95-110k. Find out more details and how to apply at: hatchspace.org/news/ hatchspace-seeks-next-leader.

79 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Dining Services: General Manager, Floor Managers, Healthcare Hospitality Assistants, Servers, Dining Operations Coordinator, Cooks, Sous Chefs & Dishwashers

JOIN OUR TEAM! Financial Services Assistant

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. (VITL) is hiring an Office Administrator. The position will be responsible for providing comprehensive administrative support to the CEO and Board of Directors, as well as assisting the Accounting Manager with day-today accounting and human resource tasks. In addition, the Office Administrator supports the leadership team with administrative needs. This dynamic position requires the ability to creatively manage schedules, prioritize tasks, anticipate needs, think critically, and offer solutions to problems with professionalism and confidentiality. The Office Administrator manages the organization’s office operations and is often a liaison to ensure coordination and communication across the organization. Remote in Vermont. For more information go to: vitl.net/office-administrator.

At Wake Robin, we are committed to your professional development and career growth, making your experience with us not only rewarding but also a significant step in your career. Wake Robin offers competitive benefits & believes in supporting a livable wage for all Vermonters. Visit wakerobin.com/contact-us/employment and apply today to join a team & caring community where your work truly makes a difference in the lives of others!

Principal The Kingdom East School District is seeking three dynamic and caring instructional leaders to fill principal positions at Burke Town School (PreK-8), Lunenburg School (K-5), and Lyndon Town School (PreK-8) that have experience cultivating a vibrant, professional and effective learning environment. The Principal will oversee students and staff who are dedicated to providing an outstanding educational experience for all students. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, collaborative leadership skills, curriculum development experience, and the ability to balance financial, operational and program needs. Position will start July 1, 2024. Current Vermont Teaching License (or eligibility) with proper administrative/principal endorsement (3-91) is required. Competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience and skills. Only completed, on-line applications at schoolspring. com will be accepted. On-line application must include: profile, letter, resume, and questions, if asked. Hard copies of Vermont Certification with appropriate endorsements, three written letters of reference and transcripts will be required for verification at the interview level. Visit our website kingdomeast.org for information about our schools. Minority applicants are encouraged to apply. E.O.E. M/F

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

JOIN OUR TEAM! Shared Living Provider 68 -year-old woman Summer Art Camp INSTRUCTOR Are you an energetic and motivated individual eager to join Davis Studio's team of Summer Art Camp Instructors? We provide week-long camp programming for students in grades 1 – 9, with a focus on art and creativity through different themes. We are seeking someone who is available to instruct 3 to 5 weeks of summer camps (8am-3pm, M-F). Our ideal candidate is organized, has strong communication and classroom management skills, along with a commitment to providing campers with an excellent experience. Requirements: CPR/First Aid Certification, Experienced Art Teacher, Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media Skills Salary: $20.00 - $23.00/hour Experience: At least 1 year of teaching experience (Required). Send resumes to: mdickerson@ davisstudiovt.com.

Seeking dynamic Shared Living Provider to support a 68 -yearold woman who enjoys crafts, bingo, and going out to lunch. We are looking for a caring, patient provider with strong boundaries, excellent communication skills, and the ability to provide support with personal care, transportation, medication administration, and attending medical appointments. An accessible home, with a first floor bedroom and bathroom is needed. Two providers, or one provider with abundant availability, to provide care and companionship are preferred. A quiet home environment without children is preferred.

Compensation: $38,850 tax-free annual stipend. Interested candidates contact Sara at shanlon@howardcenter.org. AT WWW.CCV.EDU OR

AThowardcenter.org THE CCV• 802-488-6500 LOCATION NEAREST YOU

WE’RE LOOKING FOR dynamic, mission-driven 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!

• GRANT FINANCE MANAGER

LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?

Winooski or Montpelier

• NORTHERN LIGHTS RESOURCE ADVISOR CCV Center Flexible

• COORDINATOR OF STUDENT ADVISING Northwest Region

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.

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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.

New, local, scamfree jobs posted every day! jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

Restorative Approaches Coordinator and Coach

Love working with youth, we have open positions that pay up to 25.00 per hour! Scan the QR code to view job descriptions & apply.

MOVING PROFESSIONALS Local moving company looking for movers! Previous experience is not required. We will train the right candidates! Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, have the highest level of customer service and work well in a team atmosphere. Competitive wages!

LRC is hiring a 32-40 hr/wk Restorative Approaches Coordinator and Coach (RACC) to actively promote restorative practices at LRC and within the wider community. This effort will be guided by a school-wide restorative model, incorporating principles of applied educational neuroscience and adult education theory. The RACC is part of LRC’s Youth Team and will work collaboratively with other LRC programs in the promotion of restorative practices. This position is ideal for someone with an understanding of restorative work in schools, excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills, and those who are interested in a workplace that promotes employee well-being and is known for its inclusive and collaborative work environment. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required. The hourly pay rate is between $21.97 and $26.55. A generous benefits policy provides $12,000 annually for each employee to pay for the benefits they need, such as: medical, dental, vision, supplemental insurance and retirement. Additional benefits include 27 paid days off and 17 paid holidays, pre-tax dependent care deductions, paid family medical leave, an annual training stipend, and life insurance. Please submit a cover letter and resume to: info@lrcvt.org.

Rhino’s hiring is hot right now! Get on board in time for their busy season. Check out our website for all job listings, which include:

Production 1st shift $18.00/hr, Sign-on Bonus: $1,500

Production: 3rd shift $18.00/hr + $1.50 shift differential. Sign-on Bonus: $2,000

Sanitation: 2nd Shift $18.00/hr + $1.00 shift differential. Sign-on Bonus: $1,500

Earn some “Dough” at Rhino Foods! rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers

Check out these openings and others on our career page:

*Rhino Foods runs sex offender checks on all employees

Outreach Coordinator

Assistant Manager

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

81 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

LRC is an equal opportunity employer and invites applications from professionals with lived experience. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District is seeking a creative, enthusiastic, and dedicated Outreach Please call 802-655-6683 Coordinator. This person will create and for more information implement educational programs targeting or email resume to: waste reduction, recycling and composting through a variety of community outreach activities and Jennifer@vtmoving.com. programs. Each day brings new opportunities ranging from designing and writing content for newsletters, to teaching kindergartners about the importance of recycling, to working 2v-VTMovingCo050119.indd 1 4/26/19 12:20 PM with a local business to implement on-site compost systems.

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE.

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

The Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District is looking for a leader who knows how to get work done! The Assistant Manager is part of the management team and collaborates regularly with the Operations Administrator and the Outreach Coordinator to promote the District’s mission. This includes the operation of five District recycling centers and Lamoille Soil Compost, supervision of off-site employees, implementation of policies and programs, and strategic, facility, and financial planning. Experience with personnel and project management are desired skills to be successful. We invite you to review the full job descriptions at lrswmd.org/job-openings before submitting a resume and cover letter. If you are the right candidate to join this dynamic team, email a current resume and a cover letter to manager@lrswmd.org.

Case Manager (Multiple Positions Available)

State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Coordinator Work at an organization that cares as much about you as the clients it serves! Our employees appreciate their health benefits, employer paid retirement plan contributions, flexibility, professional development opportunities and positive work environment. We seek new team members who can empathize with others, are comfortable with computers, are strong communicators and are enthusiastic about growing as professionals. For more information, visit: cvcoa.org/employment.html.

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

82 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Shared Living Provider Seeking a Shared Living Provider for an active 7-year-old boy. He has a love for trucks, trains and running around! Supervision required as he learns to navigate his environment, he is nonspeaking with an autism diagnosis. Ideal support would be a couple that is active, no other children in the home and no pets at this time. Provider will be an essential member of a treatment team and will provide personal care and medical support. Compensation: $70,000 tax-free annual stipend plus room and board, in addition to contracted supports. Interested candidates contact Mackenzie Geary at mgeary@howardcenter.org or 802.488.6553.

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500

VERMONT STATE COURTS - BURLINGTON

JUDICIAL ASSISTANT Looking to enter the legal world and make a difference? $20.40 per hour, permanent full-time positions. The Judicial branch of state government is rapidly expanding. We offer a competitive rate with top-notch health, dental, paid time off and pension. The successful candidate has 2 years’ general office experience, is a team player, good communicator, able to use technology, organized, and seeking a prestigious and professional atmosphere.

COURT SECURITY OFFICER Recruiting for a full-time, permanent Court Officer. The position provides security and ensures safety to courthouse occupants, as well as oversight of courtroom operations. High School graduate and two years in a responsible position required. Starting pay $18.37 per hour. Permanent positions come with excellent benefits, paid holidays and leave time. For more detailed descriptions and how to apply: bit.ly/ VTStateCourtsJobs2024. Open until filled. E.O.E.

We are a leader in the organic, non-GMO seed, farming and food community who cares deeply about the need to grow nutrient rich, healthy food for the world and each other.

Accounting Manager Key Responsibilities: • Oversee all bookkeeping

Outreach Coordinator, EPSCoR Are you excited about STEM education that includes the humanities and social sciences? VTSU is hiring an Outreach Coordinator for our UVM EPSCoR 5-year NSF grant-funded project. The project develops a pipeline of educators and next-generation scholars, exposing students and the public to algorithmic thinking and increasing computational literacy. This position will support participants in the program. Participants include teachers seeking Computer Science endorsement, undergraduates in a summer research internship, and students in VTWorks for Women programs. In addition, this position will support STEM-related educational outreach to schools and community organizations to meet the grant deliverables. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor’s degree in related field. • 1-2 years of related experience, or similar combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired. • Comprehensive Benefits Package including tuition benefits

Apply: bit.ly/VTSUepscor2024.

THE GRIND GOT YOU DOWN?

• Manage cash flow • Prepare & analyze financial reports • Administer Payroll & Benefits

Marketing Content Specialist Key Responsibilities: • Plan, write and create brand-aligned content for digital and print channels, including our website, email campaigns and annual catalog • Administer social media channels • Collaborate across departments & participate in strategic planning Email your resume, cover letter, link to portfolio or samples, and references to jobs@highmowingseeds.com. Please put the job title in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

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Perk up!

Browse 100+ new job postings from trusted, local employers.

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

83 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Energy Navigator Program Manager Help your neighbors implement climate and energy solutions.

Join Our CBMVT Family! Join CBMVT a leading janitorial and maintenance company. Perform critical cleaning responsibilities for our clients, with emphasis on stellar customer service. Experience career growth, benefits, paid training, PTO and Employer matched 401K! Full time site supervisor position overseeing cleaning staff at multiple residential living facilities. Ideal candidates enjoy collaborative projects and can demonstrate attention to details. Must pass background check.

WHY NOT HAVE A JOB YOU LOVE?

Enjoy your job and be a part of one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont! Great jobs in management and direct support serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities.

Immediate opening. Please submit applications by email to energynavigator.ceac@gmail.com. Applications should include a cover letter, resume, three references, and several work samples. More details are available at: tinyurl.com/2uwank6n.

Visit ccs-vt.org/current-openings and apply today.

Call 802-951-1102 today!

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Vermont Housing &

Case Administrator/ Intake Clerk

12/18/23 3:08 PM

Conservation Board

Join our innovative and award-winning team to help bring more affordable housing to Vermont!

U.S. District Court

Associate Director of Resource Development & Resiliency

The United States District Court is seeking a qualified individual with excellent analytical, clerical, operational and computer skills capable of functioning in a dynamic, team-oriented environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont. Full federal benefits apply.

The successful candidate will oversee VHCB’s federal grant navigation to assist with securing public funding sources to meet our programmatic needs and mission as well as resource and program development related to climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience, smart growth, and other opportunities to support the resiliency of conservation and affordable housing programs.

Complete job description and formal application requirements are found in the official Position Announcement available from court locations in Burlington and Rutland and the court’s website: vtd.uscourts.gov E.O.E.

The nonprofit Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County (CEAC) needs you as Program Manager for its new Residential Energy Navigator Program. The Program Manager will play a vital role in providing an independent, trusted, and local resource connecting Addison County people to the opportunities available to bring electric heat pumps and other weatherization and energy efficiency improvements into their homes to create a low carbon future.

This position is open until February 21st.

T H E University of Vermont M E D I C A L C E N T E R

H EUniversity EE NN TE Vermont M Universityofof Vermont T HT E MEEDDI ICCAAL LCC TR ER Phlebotomy Apprenticeship Training Program PhlebotomyApprenticeship Apprenticeship Training Phlebotomy TrainingProgram Program You can invest in your career! Our training program is a paid, You can invest in your career! Our training program is a paid, paid

You can invest in yourcareer! career!Our Our training training program isisa a paid Youopportunity can invest your paid, toinbecome a phlebotomist withprogram no experience necessary, a opportunity to become a phlebotomist with no experience necessary, necessary. a opportunity todiploma becomeoraGED phlebotomist no experience a high school is required. with Selected students willnecessary, be high school diploma oror GED is is required. Selected students will bebe A high school diploma GED required. Selected students will provided textbooks, receive mentoring from program staff, high schoolwith diploma or GED is required. Selected students will and be provided with textbooks, receive mentoring from program staff, and prepared to textbooks, take the Phlebotomy Certification Exam! The application provided with receive mentoring from program staff, and prepare tototake prepared takethe thePhlebotomy PhlebotomyCertification CertificationExam! Exam!The Theapplication application deadline for thethe Spring 2024 program is Wednesday, February 28th. prepared to take Phlebotomy Certification Exam! The application deadline for the Spring 2024 program is Wednesday, February 28th. deadline for theemployment Spring 2024on program Guaranteed day oneisofWednesday, the training February 28th.

Guaranteed employment on day one of the training Great pay and full benefits

Guaranteed employment on day one of the training Great pay and full benefits A $2,000 sign on bonus

Great pay and benefits A $2,000 signfull on bonus sign-on bonus

External candidates are eligible for a one-time sign on bonus paid over 3 installments. Amounts reflect External candidates are eligible a one-time sign on bonus over 33 installments. sign-on bonus paid paid overby installments. Amounts reflect gross pay, prior to applicable taxfor withholdings and deductions require law. CurrentAmounts Universityreflect of Vermont gross pay, applicable tax withholdings and deductions deductions require by Current prior to applicable tax withholdings and required bylaw. law.apply. CurrentUniversity Universityof ofVermont Health Network employees are excluded and additional terms and conditions External candidates are eligible for a one-time sign on bonus paid over 3 installments. Amounts reflect Health Network are excluded and additional terms andterms conditions apply. apply. Vermont Healthemployees Network employees are excluded and additional and conditions

A $2,000 sign on bonus

gross pay, prior to applicable tax withholdings and deductions require by law. Current University of Vermont Health Network employees are excluded and additional terms and conditions apply.

Apply now at www.iaahitec.org/phlebotomy Apply now at www.iaahitec.org/phlebotomy

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. We offer a comprehensive benefit package and an inclusive, supportive work environment. For full job description, salary information, and application instructions please visit vhcb.org/about-us/jobs

Apply now at www.iaahitec.org/phlebotomy

The UVM Medical Center will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices The UVM CenterRELIGION, will not discriminate applicants or apprentices based onMedical RACE, COLOR, NATIONALagainst ORIGIN,apprenticeship SEX (INCLUDING PREGNANCY AND GENDER based on RACE, COLOR, RELIGION,GENETIC NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX OR (INCLUDING GENDER IDENTITY), SEXUAL ORIENTATION, INFORMATION, BECAUSEPREGNANCY THEY ARE ANAND INDIVIDUAL SEXUAL OR ORIENTATION, GENETIC IDENTITY), WITH A DISABILITY A PERSON 40 YEARS INFORMATION, OLD OR OLDER.OR BECAUSE THEY ARE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY OR A PERSON 40 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. The THe UVMUVM Medical Center willwill not discriminate applicants apprentices Medical Center take affirmative against action toapprenticeship provide equal opportunity in or apprenticeship based RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX (INCLUDING AND GENDER THe UVM Medical Center will take take affirmative affirmative action to provide provide equal opportunity in of apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program action as required under Title 29 of PREGNANCY the Code Federal Theon UVM Medical Center will to equal opportunity in apprenticeship IDENTITY), GENETIC INFORMATION, OR BECAUSE THEY ARE INDIVIDUAL and willSEXUAL operate the program as required under Title 29 of the Code ofAN Federal Regulations, partORIENTATION, 30.apprenticeship Regulations, partOR 30.A PERSON 40 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. WITH A DISABILITY

THe UVM Medical Center will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30. 6t-VHCB013124 1

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

84 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Now Hiring! Director of Conferences & Special Events Join our Caring Team and Advance Your Career in Senior Living

WESTVIEW MEADOWS • Medication Tech/Resident Services Assistant (part-time) • Cook (full-time) • Registered Nurse (Resident Care Director)

LEARN MORE & APPLY

THE GARY RESIDENCE

thegaryresidence.com HR@thegaryresidence.com

• Resident Services Assistant

westviewmeadows.com HR@westviewmeadows.com

Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for the Director of Conferences and Special Events. The Director is the driving force behind delivering comprehensive excellence in event management, ensuring seamless execution of a diverse range of events, leaving no detail untouched. From college-sponsored events to external client functions, the Director will create memorable experiences, fostering positive relationships across campus, and with clients, vendors, and 7spot.indd 1 contractors. The Director will bring a strategic mindset to revenue generation, developing and implementing a sales strategy that not only drives revenue but also builds brand awareness for our rental and event spaces and establishing Saint Michael’s College as a premier events venue. As the architect of events and rental revenue growth, the Director will bring a blend of creativity and business acumen to attract external clients and establish lasting partnerships with new and existing clients, organizations, and communities. For job description, benefits and to apply, please visit: bit.ly/SMCDCSE.

10/29/19 12:12 PM

LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?

• Activity & Resident Services Assistant (part-time)

Both facilities offer excellent work environments along with competitive pay and benefits.

Community Bankers BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS® There is no better time to join NSB’s team!

5v-WestviewMeadows012424 1

1/19/24 9:20 AM Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest

Associate Campus Operations Director VTSU Castleton Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, facilities management, or other appropriate discipline, +5-7 years of relevant technical & supervisory experience in facilities or construction management, or a combination of comparable knowledge/experience. • Technical knowledge & skills relevant to physical plant mgmt., including experience in project planning, estimating, and oversight, blueprint reading, & the like as well as great working knowledge of the skilled trades. Technical training in engineering is desirable. • Demonstrated leadership, communication, & interpersonal skills. • Knowledge of OSHA. • Excellent planning, organizational, administrative, budget, & personnel mgmt. skills. • Ability to deal effectively with a broad range of individuals/groups. • Experience working in a collective bargaining environment.

LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Waitsfield, Taft Corners, or Richmond location! Relevant Skills: • Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) • Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply! • If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining NSB! Opportunity for Growth NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team! What NSB Can Offer You: • Competitive compensation based on experience. • Well-rounded benefits package, Profit-Sharing opportunity. • Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. • Commitment to professional development. • Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance!

• Experience in energy conservation & mgmt. highly desirable.

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com.

Please contact: humanresources@vermontstate.edu.

E.O.E. / Member FDIC

Find 100+ new job postings from trusted, local employers in Seven Days newspaper and online. Follow @SevenDaysJobs on Twitter

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com

Market Garden Assistant

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

The Laboratory at Copley is Hiring!

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Shared Living Provider

For the following positions:

Full description and to apply: trilliumhillfarm.com/ employment.html

Seeking a Shared Living Provider for a 34-year-old man. He would live in your home and needs support with cooking, cleaning, household tasks, attending appointments, and managing medications. He has a great sense of humor, is very outgoing, enjoys socializing, pets, politics, and TV shows. An ideal candidate would be kind, LGBTQ+-friendly, and have experience supporting people with disabilities. This individual would prefer to live in a roommate-style arrangement with other adults near his age. He has some supervision needs but can be alone for a couple of hours at a time, has weekday staff supports, and a generous respite budget. Monthly room/board payments & annual stipend included.

Phlebotomists Medical lab scientist Lab supervisor

Benefits include:

On-the-job training Enhanced shift differential Sign-on bonus for select shifts/positions

F/T Operations Lead Non-Profit Wood Bank Wood4Good Experience with running chainsaws and logsplitters/ heavy equipment, mechanic background or mechanical aptititude.

Interested candidates contact: hausermann@howardcenter.org, 802-343-9150.

Information and to apply visit copleyvt.org/careers or call J.T. Vize, Recruiter, at 802-888-8329

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85 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500 1/29/24 1:46 PM

Project managment, organizing volunteers and distributing firewood, maintaining/repairing equipment. Ready to ignite warmth and compassion? Email eric@ wood4goodvt.org.

AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BASED IN MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT

SEEKING A SUMMER CAMP DIRECTOR Bridge School is seeking a responsible summer camp director who can develop and manage a robust 2024 Bridge School summer program. The director will lead operations for the entire summer; hire, train and supervise summer counselors; develop, implement and adhere to staff and program policies following Vermont Childcare Program Regulations; manage a high-quality educational program for campers and serve as an ambassador of the Bridge School’s mission. Please email Jen@bridgeschoolvermont.org with your cover letter and resumé to apply!

ALSO SEEKING SUMMER CAMP COUNSELORS Bridge School Summer Camp is seeking creative, responsible, and dynamic individuals. As part of an educator team, you will create and implement a high-quality summer camp experience for local elementary school children. Please email Jen@bridgeschoolvermont.org with your cover letter and resumé to apply! BRIDGESCHOOLVERMONT.ORG

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1/22/24 8:43 AM

Town Manager

100% EMPLOYEE-OWNED

Morristown, Vermont (pop. 5,500) has recently adopted the Manager form of government. With unanimous support from the Selectboard, and voter approval by a two to one margin, the community is eager for professional municipal management. To this end, the Town seeks an experienced Manager with a collaborative, engaging style, deep knowledge of local government, and the ability to build consensus across the community.

Join the team Company at Join Gardener’s Supply Gardener’s Supply Company! Grow with Us!

Morristown is a regional center of commerce for Lamoille County – one of Vermont’s fastest growing regions. The Town is anchored by Morrisville, a vibrant village focused on commerce, food, the arts, and community. Ideally located between the Green and Worcester mountain ranges, and surrounded by hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and skiing, Morristown’s population and housing growth is on a strong upward trend.

Discover the unique opportunity to be part of Gardener’s 100% employee-owned company and an award winning Supply Company, a 100% employee-owned and socially and nationally recognized socially responsible business. responsible business. As an award-winning and nationally We work hard AND offer a fun place to work including recognized company, we value hard work and provide a fun BBQs, staff parties, employee garden plots and much workplace with BBQs, staff parties, employee garden plots, more! We also offer strong cultural values, competitive and more! Enjoy competitive wages, outstanding benefits, wages and outstanding benefits! and a workplace built on strong cultural values.

The Manager will serve as the Chief Administrative Officer and oversee daily operations of the Town, while leading an accomplished team of department heads. With broad responsibility for all Town functions, the Manager is ultimately responsible for the following core areas: personnel management; financial management; project management; and communications. The Town has combined budgets of $9.2 million across multiple funds and 50 full time employees. Employees are represented by three unions (police, highway, and general / EMS). The anticipated starting salary is between $120,000 and $135,000, depending on qualifications and experience. A recruitment brochure and job description are available at morristownvt.gov under “Latest News.” Dominic Cloud is the recruiter and he can be reached at (802) 309-1775. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Mr. Cloud. Resume review will begin on February 19, 2024. Morristown is an Equal Opportunity Provider & Employer

Join the team at Gardener’s Supply Company! We are a

Accounts Payable Specialist Social Marketing Specialist

Thisusposition the coordination Join and playisa responsible pivotal role infor expanding and monof all AP related activities including AP entry, etizing our social media footprint! Collaborate with the quick check foreign & captivating domestic content Marketing andprocessing, Creative teams to craft weekly checktrends. runs,Oversee file organization, inwiring, line with gardening influencer networks, devise distinct strategies for major social platforms, and inventory & freight invoice matching, and direct implement profitable paid-social in partnership communications with internaladvertising employees, vendors, with Digital Advertising Agency.will Analyze andour banks. Our ideal candidate havesocial 2 yrsmedia work performance, stay updated on industry best practices, and experience in accounting or related field; aptitude contribute to co-marketing opportunities. If you have 2-5 for working with numbers; high school diploma years of digital/social marketing experience, robust project or equivalent, Associates Degree preferred; and a management skills, and a love for gardening, apply now at commitment to excellent customer service. Gardener’s Supply to cultivate your career with us! Interested? Please go to our pageatat Apply online by visiting our careers careers page gardeners.com/careers and apply online! gardeners.com/careers.

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4/25/23 5/8/23 10:33 10:08 AM

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Information Systems Analyst The Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, located in Waterbury Center, Vermont is seeking an Information Systems Analyst to join our team. This position is responsible for installing, administering and supporting information systems technology in order to enhance and maintain services and business productivity and shall report to the Manager of Technology & Security Services. Essential functions include but are not limited to: • Provide oversight and maintenance of Authority and Member computer environment(s). • Provide relevant support on operating systems, computer software and Internet applications to staff and to member systems. • Perform system operations tasks such as backups, disk usage. • Support the Authority’s web site including interaction with third-party web design and hosting contractors in a backup role. • Provide support to the manager of Technology & Security Services and Authority staff relative to electric cybersecurity issues as appropriate. • Facilitate the process to build and deploy devices while maintaining accurate hardware/software inventory (i.e. servers, iPhones, laptops, tablets, network, VMs,etc.) Duties require specialized knowledge of computer technology applications, support, and training equivalent to completion of two years of college and/or three to five years of progressively responsible related experience with specialized training in computer technology. VPPSA is building a team of professionals who are passionate about helping Vermont towns meet their energy needs. If you are a team player and enjoy a fast-paced collaborative environment we want to hear from you. Please send resume and salary requirements to: Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, PO Box 126, Waterbury Ctr., Vermont 05677 Attn: Amy Parah, or to aparah@vppsa.com. The position will be open until filled. See the full job description on our website: vppsa.com.

Position Opening (UNION)

MEMBER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE

New, local, scamfree jobs posted every day!

WEC was founded in 1939 to bring electricity to rural Vermont communities and to provide our members with a voice in their energy future. WEC continues today with that same spirit as our pioneering founders with a commitment to our environment, communities and our member-owners. We are a notfor-profit cooperative utility serving our member-owners in 41 towns in central Vermont’s rural landscape. General Summary of Job Responsibilities: Reliable, detail-oriented person with excellent customer service skills needed in a fast-paced, team-oriented office that works with WEC members to perform a variety of billing functions and data entry. Primary duties of the position include answering the telephone, working with members, responding to billing inquiries, receiving and processing payments, collecting delinquent accounts, and entering billing data. Must be able to communicate effectively with members and employees of the Cooperative, & with representatives of other organizations as required. Requirements: High school diploma with emphasis on business courses and two years’ experience in an office environment or an associate’s degree in business required. Knowledge of Microsoft Office and cashiering experience preferred. Submit cover letter and resume to Teia Greenslit, Director of Finance & Administration, Washington Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 8, East Montpelier, VT 05651, or teia.greenslit@wec.coop. Date of Posting: January 12, 2024 Salary Range: $24.27 to $31.58 Days and Hours of Work: Weekdays. Between the hours of 7:30AM - 5:00 PM. Anticipated Start Date: January 30, 2024 Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Washington Electric Cooperative is an E.O.E.

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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6/18/19 1:24 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

87 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

JOIN OUR TEAM! Program Manager Responsible for managing the full life cycle of our art & craft education programs. Send email and cover letter to Program Director, Jess Wilkinson jess@ whiterivercraftcenter.org.

Shared Living Provider 50-year-old Woman Seeking a gentle/thoughtful Shared Living Provider willing to provide complete personal care and special care procedures for a woman over 50 years of age. An accessible home will best meet her needs and we are willing to help with this. She enjoys watching her favorite shows, music, and the companionship of people. Compensation: Annual stipend of $37,724 plus room & board. Call (802)989-1075 or e-mail avernon@howardcenter.org with interest.

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500 7spot.indd 1

10/29/19 12:12 PM

Legislative Communications Specialist The Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, located in Waterbury Center, Vermont is seeking a Legislative Communications Specialist to join our team. This position is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to advance the organization’s policy agenda and public image. The specialist will monitor and analyze relevant legislation and regulatory proposals, communicate with government officials and stakeholders, and create informational materials that inform the public of the organization’s policies, programs, services, and activities. Essential functions include but are not limited to:

Conservation Nursery Sales Manager The Intervale Center is seeking a Sales Manager to join the Intervale Conservation Nursery team. The ICN Sales Manager is responsible for facilitating relationships with statewide partners, selling products and services, creating nursery targets and propagation goals in partnership with the Operations Coordinator, tracking inventory and sales, and participating in production planning. They work closely with the entire Nursery team, leading the sales of products and services and providing support in the field. Intervale Center is an E.O.E. that values diversity of experience, background, and perspective to enrich our work. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. The full job description with instructions on how to apply can be found at intervale.org.

Litigation Attorney SRH Law PLLC, a mission-driven law firm and Certified B Corporation®, seeks an attorney with at least 5 years of litigation experience to assist in leading the firm’s active civil and administrative litigation practice. Our litigation practice consists of environmental and general commercial litigation in state and federal courts, often for clients promoting renewable energy, affordable housing, and downtown revitalization. We also conduct administrative litigation before the Vermont Public Utility Commission, Act 250 District Commissions, and other administrative tribunals at the federal, state, and local levels. Candidates should have significant experience in all phases of litigation, at least some experience managing cases independently, & outstanding written & oral communication skills. As a mission-driven firm, SRH Law works with clients— including businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, government entities, and individuals—who share our commitment to making a difference in their communities and the broader world. We take our inspiration from our clients’ good work and help them excel in their business or mission by resolving their legal issues with creativity and integrity. We strive to create a new model for legal practice that offers the ability to do important work on issues we care deeply about, while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This position offers the opportunity to join a skilled team of lawyers and build a meaningful and rewarding litigation practice. Competitive salary depending on experience and excellent benefits -- employer-paid health insurance, excellent work life balance, hybrid work model, 401(k) plan with employer match, family leave, dependent care account, free parking and paid vacation. We are an equal opportunity employer and we seek to increase diversity within our firm. Interested persons should e-mail a letter of interest and resume to applications@srhlaw.com. Applications considered on a rolling basis until position is filled.

• Manages communications activities and events including community events promoting value of public power such as Public Power Week. • Reviews, produces, and edits website content. • Designs customer and member-facing communications materials such as bill stuffers, flyers and other print and electronic communications materials. • Attends legislative hearings and meetings with legislators, legislative staff, and other legislative liaisons. • Research and examine legislation and regulatory proposals that affect the organization’s interests and objectives. • Represents the organization before legislative committees and provides testimony as needed. Duties require a combination of knowledge in political science, public policy, communications, journalism, or related field equivalent to completion of four years of college and three to five years of progressively responsible related experience. Knowledge of the legislative process and the policy issues relevant to the organization’s mission and vision. Experience in media relations, public speaking, and event planning. VPPSA is building a team of professionals who are passionate about helping Vermont towns meet their energy needs. If you are a team player and enjoy a fast-paced collaborative environment we want to hear from you. Please send resume and salary requirements to: Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, PO Box 126, Waterbury Ctr., Vermont 05677 Attn: Sarah Braese, or to sbraese@vppsa.com. The position will be open until filled. See the full job description on our website: vppsa.com.

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

88 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

JOB TRAINING. WELL DONE. Join the Community Kitchen Academy! Community Kitchen Academy (CKA) is a 9-week job training program featuring: Hands on learning, national ServSafe certification, job placement support and meaningful connections to community. Plus... the tuition is FREE and weekly stipends are provided for income eligible students! At CKA you’ll learn from professional chefs in modern commercial kitchens and graduate with the skills and knowledge to build a career in food service, food systems and other related fields. Throughout the 9-week course, you’ll develop and apply new skills by preparing food that would otherwise be wasted. The food you cook is then distributed through food shelves and meal sites throughout the community. CKA is a program of the Vermont Foodbank, operated in partnership with Capstone Community Action in Barre and Feeding Chittenden in Burlington. Next session starts February 26th in Barre. APPLY ONLINE: vtfoodbank.org/cka.

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER...

GO HIRE.

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.

Job Seekers:

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR - BARRE

The Vermont Department of Libraries seeks a skilled, organized, and motivated Grants & Contracts Administrator. We are a small department dedicated to helping all libraries throughout the state. Our department resides within the Agency of Administration (AOA), and this position will work closely with AOA’s Finance and Management Office to pay invoices, process contracts and grants, and monitor and report on federal grants the Department receives. For more information, contact Janette Shaffer, janette.shaffer@vermont.gov. Department: Libraries, Job ID: 49159, Application Deadline: 2/5/24.

LIBRARY BUILDINGS PROJECT MANAGER V - BARRE

The Vermont Department of Libraries seeks a skilled Library Buildings Project Manager V to administer federal funding it will receive through the $16.4M U.S. Treasury and $10M HUD funding to support capital projects at public libraries in Vermont. The Buildings Project Manager V will be responsible for administering these two federal fund grant programs for the Department. For more information, contact Janette Shaffer, janette.shaffer@vermont.gov. Department: Libraries, Job ID: 49054, Application Deadline: 2/5/24.

FINANCIAL MANAGER - MONTPELIER

We are searching for a dynamic and energetic candidate to join our team! This position will be responsible for the monthly and annual financial closeout as well as the management of the Accounts Payable unit within the financial sections of our Administration and Innovation Division. For more information, contact David Pasco at david.pasco@vermont.gov. Department: Environmental Conservation, Job ID: 48925, Application Deadline: 2/11/24.

Learn more at :

careers.vermont.gov

Job Recruiters: • Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.). • Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria. • Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions. • Apply for jobs directly through the site.

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard.

Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.73) CROSSWORD (P.73)

fun stuff HARRY BLISS

“I thought about going vegan. Then I thought, ‘No.’”

JEN SORENSEN

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

fun stuff RACHEL LINDSAY

WANT MORE FUN STUFF? Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games. NEW ON FRIDAYS:

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 7, 2024

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL FEBRUARY 1-7

what’s little makes up the quality of the best happiness. Soft!”

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)

It’s the fifth annual Brag Therapy Holiday — for you Aquarians only. During this celebration, we expect you — indeed we want you — to boast with panache. Tell us all in exquisite detail why you are such a marvelous creation. Explain how you have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to transform yourself into a masterpiece of intuitive intelligence. Regale us with stories of your winsome qualities, your heroic triumphs, and your hilarious and poignant adventures on the edge of reality. Make sure we understand how educational and healing it can be to bask in your influence. Show us why we should regard you as a role model.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): “Happiness” is an amorphous term with a different meaning for everyone. What makes me feel happy may be unlike what works for you. Besides that, any kind of perfect happiness is impossible to achieve. However we define it, we are always a mix of being happy and unhappy. Nevertheless, I invite you to ruminate about the subject in the coming days. I believe you are primed to arrive at a realistic new understanding of your personal version of happiness — and raise your happiness levels by at least 15 percent. Maybe more! Now here are helpful clues from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “Precisely the least thing, the gentlest, lightest thing, the rustling of a lizard, a breath, a whisk, a twinkling of the eye —

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): I invite you to take an inventory of your taboos, inhibitions and restrictions. Meditate on why you originally adopted them. Evaluate how well they have served you and whether they are still meaningful. If you find any of them have become unnecessary or even injurious, jettison them. And be excited and happy about being free of them. If you decide that some taboos, inhibitions and restrictions are still wise for you to maintain, thank them for their service and honor the self-protection they provide. GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Gemini novelist Gregory Maguire says there are a “thousand ways people shrink from life, as if chance and change are by their nature toxic and disfiguring.” Your assignment in the coming weeks is to contradict his theory. I’m hoping you will interpret all chance and change as potentially expansive, redemptive and interesting. You will never shrink from life but will boldly meet challenges and embrace twists of fate as interesting opportunities. I have abundant faith in your ability to carry out this vigorous project! CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): You could be a masterful eliminator of toxins and wastes in the coming weeks. Do it both for yourself and for those you care about. Start by purging nonessentials that obstruct the flow of the good life. These might include defunct fantasies, mistaken understandings, apathetic attitudes and unloving approaches. Among the other dross or dreck you could root out is any clutter that’s making familiar environments feel oppressive. By the way, fellow Cancerian, this should be fun. If it’s not, you’re doing it wrong. LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): My goals right now

are to inspire you in the following three ways: 1) to be full of love for your daily life; 2) to adore yourself exactly as you are; 3) to shed any numbness or boredom you feel and replace them with alert aliveness. To help you in this exalted effort, I offer the inspiration of three quotes. 1) “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the

common.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson. 2) “The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” —Eden Phillpotts. 3) “I have the mysterious feeling of seeing for the first time something I have always known.” —Bernardo Bertolucci.

by miraculous magic or a divine spirit? Might you be dramatically awakened or inspired by a very subtle influence? I think it will happen, even if you don’t believe.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittar-

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): In the coming

weeks, I hope you avoid sucking up to egotistical manipulators. Please also refrain from being an unappreciated beast of burden and a half-willing pawn in boring games. If you are interested in paying off karmic debts, make sure they are yours, not anyone else’s. If you plan to work hard to lay the foundation for a future liberation, get a guarantee that you will be one of the liberated people. PS: I’m fine with you doing unselfish things as long as they will also have selfish benefits.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): One of the great maladies affecting modern people is the atrophy of the soul. It’s related to another affliction: the apathy of the soul. A key contributor to these misfortunes is the entertainment industry. Its shallow and artificial stimuli are engineered to overfeed our egos, leaving our poor souls malnourished. Please note that I have no problem with our egos. They are an important part of our makeup and are essential for healthy functioning. But it’s a shame they hog all the glory and sustenance. Now here’s my climactic message for you, Libra: It’s high time to celebrate a holiday I call Nurture the Soul. Make it last at least three weeks. Homework: Identify three actions you will take to excite, cherish and enhance your soul. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In myth and legend, pregnancies don’t always begin with two humans having sexual communion. The well-known story of the Virgin Mary tells us she was impregnated when the Holy Spirit, disguised as a dove, whispered in her ear. The Roman goddess Juno conceived her son Mars solely with the help of an enchanted lily flower. The Greek hero Attis germinated inside his virgin mother, Nana, after she placed a pomegranate in her lap. This might sound outlandish, but I foresee you having a metaphorically comparable experience. Do you believe in the possibility of being fertilized

ian computer scientist Grace Hopper (19061992) wrote, “The most damaging phrase in the language is: ‘It’s always been done that way.’” I will expand on that wisdom. The most obvious meaning is that we risk ignoring our individualized needs and suppressing our creative inspirations if we mindlessly conform to the habits of society. But it’s equally important not to mindlessly repeat our own long-standing ways of doing things. Maybe they were brilliant and appropriate in the past, but there’s no guarantee they will always be so. In conclusion, Sagittarius, I recommend you rebel against your own personal “It’s always been done that way,” as well as everyone else’s.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Being in love is as desirable for you Capricorns as it is for everyone else. You may be less open and dramatic than the rest of us in expressing your yearnings, but they are still a driving force. Here’s an important point: Even if you are not constantly chattering to others about your urges to give and receive intimate care, it’s crucial that you acknowledge them to yourself. To keep your soul healthy, you must be in close touch with this core fuel. You must love your need for love. Now is an excellent time to deepen your appreciation for these truths. PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): I invite you to resolve old business, draw unrewarding projects to a close and finish your lessons at the School of Tough Love. You don’t have to carry out my next proposal, but if you do, I will be glad: Politely and quietly scream, “Get out of my life” at anyone who doesn’t give you the respect and kindness you deserve. I also recommend that you do a Wrap-It-Up Ritual. Start by making an altar that pleases you with its beauty. Take scraps of paper and write on each one a description of an influence or experience you want to purge from your life. As you rip each scrap into bits, say this: “I’m grateful for what I have learned from you, but now I am leaving you behind.”

CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES & DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES: REALASTROLOGY.COM OR 1-877-873-4888