PostedByCorey Grenier
on Tue, Oct 15, 2019 at 2:54 PM
Every year the New England Newspaper and Press Association recognizes the most outstanding journalism in the region with its “Publick Occurrences” awards. Seven Days, Vermont’s free, independent newsweekly, won two — of 16 — at NENPA’s annual New England Newspaper Conference in Worcester, Mass., last week.
The judges selected “Give and Take,” the paper’s five-week exploration of Vermont’s nonprofit economy, for examining “every aspect of an important, and growing, sector in the state of Vermont,” according to the program writeup. “Seven Days was able to make the series compelling and even led to an embezzlement charge in the fundraising arena.”
“There are many people stories here,” a judge wrote about Seven Days and O’Neill’s work, “but it is a wrenchingly personal account that pulls no punches.”
NENPA’s Publick Occurrences awards are named after the first newspaper published in America — in 1690 Boston. Four days after its launch, the royal governor shut down the fledgling media company.
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Tue, Oct 1, 2019 at 1:42 PM
James Buck
Dozens of the biggest and fastest-growing tech companies in Vermont will be hiring at the 13th Vermont Tech Jam. This annual free career and tech expo produced by Seven Days is on Thursday, October 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. It’s one of the few times all of these companies come together under one roof to talk with job seekers and students and to discuss the innovative work they do.
It’s also a great opportunity for those looking to get into tech fields to check out their options, and find out about local colleges and training programs.
“We are excited to be lead sponsor of Tech Jam for the second year,” said Vermont Works partner Louisa Schibli. “We’re especially looking forward to the ‘7 Wonders’ — showcasing some of our local entrepreneurs and businesses…Vermont Works is committed to making Vermont a community where our young people can stay and thrive, our companies have ample access to top talent, and we have a national platform for our entrepreneurs. Tech Jam is a big part of this mission — it increases opportunities for all Vermonters.”
The schedule includes nine presentations organized along two tracks: one for entrepreneurs, business owners and tech workers; a second for professionals who want to take their careers to the next level.
The 13th Vermont Tech Jam offers:
Dozens of exhibitors, including sponsors Dealer.com, Data Innovations, Green Mountain Power, SunCommon, Vermont Information Processing and Norwich University plus companies such as Beta Technologies, Creative Microsystems, Mamava, Reading Plus and GlobalFoundries.
7 Tech Wonders of Vermont: Microchips! Mobile robots! Apps for mamas! Vermont tech companies produce a wide — and amazing — variety of products. Learn about seven of them in this opening session, which features bite-sized presentations by startups and established companies from around the state.
High-Speed Networking: Looking to connect with other like-minded individuals in the tech industry? At this session, you’ll sit down for several nano-sized meetings with other professionals. This isn’t a job interview; it’s a chance to discover a potential new career path, make connections, learn about exciting projects and practice your conversation skills before you head out to the expo floor. You never know who you’ll sit next to!
Inspiring Internships: Looking for an internship? These temporary positions can enhance your résumé and give you valuable work experience. Most of them come with a paycheck, too! At this session — geared toward potential interns and companies looking to start hiring them — representatives from companies with successful internship programs share their experiences and the career opportunities they offer. And an internship adviser talks about how to get hired.
Leveraging Blockchain to Build Startups and Jobs: “Blockchain developer” is the top-trending job in LinkedIn’s recent U.S. Emerging Job Report, with a 3,300 percent growth rate over the past four years. Blockchain, the technology that powers Bitcoin, has proved valuable for many industries and remains one of the most promising solutions in a world looking for more privacy, security and transparency. Blockchain enables peer-to-peer and decentralized transactions, and its uses are still emerging. Speakers in this session will explain how blockchain helps solve specific business problems while offering a career path here in Vermont.
Switch It Up: Feeling burned out on your current career? Out of the workforce and trying to get back in? Want to try something new and not sure where to start? Whether you just graduated college or need a boost to get over or around an obstacle at work, this workshop is for you. Hear from a career coach and others who’ve been there about how to zero in on your unique skill set and determine what’s next. You’ll leave this workshop feeling energized and ready to rock.
Public Meeting of the AI Task Force: Artificial intelligence and machine learning offer great potential for the future of society. In 2018, the Vermont legislature created a task force to study AI and make recommendations for how the state could grow and/or regulate it. For a year, the task force has been deliberating and talking with Vermonters about their hopes, questions and concerns. At this public meeting, attendees can share their thoughts — and get an update on the group’s progress.
Trust.IT: Trust as the Backbone of Business: In this age of data breaches, polarizing views and an ever increasing pace of business, it is more important than ever to build a company on the basis of trust — trusting the team, the tech and the customers. Join Vermont entrepreneurs and moderators Gwen Pokalo and Bonnie Reese from the Center for Women & Enterprise as they discuss building companies with trust as the backbone.
Good Citizen Challenge Launch:Seven Days, Kids VT and the Vermont Community Foundation launch the second Good Citizen Challenge. This youth civics project encourages Vermont students to demonstrate their knowledge of Vermont and U.S. history, as well as government, community engagement and news literacy. This year’s Challenge is powered by a new game engine built by Burlington-based GameTheory; jammers will get to take it for a test drive.
The Tech Jam Awards: On Friday afternoon, the Vermont Technology Alliance and Seven Days present the three Tech Jam Awards, for Vermont’s tech business of the year, emerging tech business and tech champion.
The Vermont Tech Jam was conceived in 2008 by Seven Days, the Vermont Technology Alliance and a coalition of public and private sector partners who sought to increase the visibility of the state’s vibrant, and growing, technology sector. The event is produced by Seven Days, with organizational support from the Vermont Technology Alliance.
For more information, a complete schedule and a list of exhibitors, visit techjamvt.com.
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Thu, Aug 1, 2019 at 9:21 AM
Seven Days, Vermont’s free, independent newsweekly, won four first-place awards at the annual Association of Alternative Newsmedia conference last month in Boulder, Colorado.
The AAN Awards recognize the most artful, compelling and courageous journalism produced each year by the alternative newsmedia. AAN member publications vary in size and circulation, and are based in cities across the U.S. and Canada; the awards contest gives these publications the opportunity to compete against their peers. This year’s competition consisted of 600 entries submitted by 55 publications in the U.S. and Canada; the University of Colorado Boulder’s department of journalism conducted the judging.
Seven Days’ awards included:
A first place in the Innovation/Format Buster category for the Give and Takeseries. Digital editor Andrea Suozzo used public tax filings to create a database of Vermont's nonprofit organizations. From that came five weeks of stories exploring and exposing the state's massive nonprofit economy.
A first place in the Specialty Publication category for What’s Good: The Seven Days City guide to Burlington.
A first place in the Cartoon category for Tim Newcomb.
A first place for former staff writer Alicia Freese in the Long-Form News Story category for “Sheriffs, Inc.” Freese explored how Vermont’s sheriffs use side contracts with government entities, malls and even construction companies to bolster their budgets — and their own personal salaries.
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Mon, Jul 1, 2019 at 10:32 AM
Left to right: Don Eggert, Pamela Polston, Paula Routly, Cathy Resmer and Colby Roberts
Seven Days has won dozens of awards for its journalism — including the coveted, best-of “general excellence” honor from the New England Newspaper and Press Association. But on June 19, 2019, the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation celebrated the free, independent newsweekly for a different reason: its business leadership. GBIC gave the C. Harry Behney award, its most prestigious honor, to Seven Days’ five owner-publishers: Paula Routly, Pamela Polston, Cathy Resmer, Colby Roberts and Don Eggert.
Given each year since 1995 in honor of past GBIC president C. Harry Behney, the recognition singles out Vermont leaders “for their significant contributions to advancing the economic wellbeing of the people of our community and promoting a climate that enhances the economic vitality of the state of Vermont." Seven Days is the first media company to receive the award; past honorees have included governors, senators and philanthropists.
In his remarks, GBIC president Frank Cioffi recognized the five Seven Days publishers “for their vision and commitment in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship through the creation and ongoing promotion of the Vermont Tech Jam.” Since 2008, the career fair and expo has showcased the state’s tech companies to attract professionals and college students who might otherwise look for tech jobs outside the state; this year's event takes place Thursday, October 17, at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction.
Cioffi also praised Seven Days for “thoughtful and inspiring leadership in shining light on the opiate epidemic facing our region and state” — a reference to the paper’s yearlong “Hooked” series reporting on Vermont’s opioid crisis. Calling it a “catalyst to help Vermonters come together as a community to find meaningful ways to address the challenges of addiction,” Cioffi credited the paper with “forging positive social and economic change for Vermonters.”
Accepting the award during GBIC’s annual meeting at Echo, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain on the Burlington Waterfront, publisher and co-editor Paula Routly said to the audience: “A lot of communities have lost their local newspapers. It’s hard to imagine the impact until it’s too late. The best papers provide a kind of gathering place. A common culture. They’re the glue that brings and holds us together. This honor feels like a rare acknowledgment of that.”
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 3:42 PM
Left to right: Corey Grenier (Seven Days), Mae Quilty (City Market), John Sayles (Vermont Foodbank), Kylie Perry (Vermont Federal Credit Union)
When Seven Days launched Vermont Restaurant Week 10 years ago, the goal was to celebrate Vermont’s vibrant food scene, drive traffic to local businesses and help our neighbors in need. At least one measure of the event’s success set a record this year: a $25,344.03 donation to the Vermont Foodbank. Over the past decade, Restaurant Week has generated a total of $147,395.36 for the Vermont nonprofit. Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Restaurant Week.
“We are so grateful to Seven Days and Vermont Federal Credit Union for organizing this event, to all of the restaurants who participated, and to all of the individuals who dined during the 10th annual Vermont Restaurant Week,” said John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank. “The Vermont Foodbank believes everyone in Vermont plays a role in solving hunger, and this generous gift is an example of how our friends, neighbors and businesses come together to ensure that everyone in Vermont has access to healthy food every day.”
“It's a tremendous feeling knowing that, as the presenting sponsor of Vermont Restaurant Week, we have been a part of growing an event that builds financially strong communities, promotes Vermont’s thriving food industry, and has also provided nearly $150,000 to the Vermont Foodbank over the past 10 years,” said Jean Giard, president and CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union.
Many sources contributed to the total donation. Proceeds from the Sweet Start Smackdown, a dessert competition featuring local pastry chefs, benefitted the foodbank. Donations also came from a panel discussion at ArtsRiot; from Pints & Poses, a yoga class for digestion at Burlington Beer Company’s Taproom; from the Sensory Social, a cider and cheese pairing at CO Cellars; Culinary Trivia Night at Nectar’s; event raffles; and a portion of sponsorship dollars.
City Market/Onion River Co-op, one of the festival’s sponsors, gave the Vermont Foodbank 40 percent of its two stores’ Rally for Change donations during the month of April. The program encourages customers to round up their total at the register and donate the difference.
More than 100 restaurants across the state participated in Vermont Restaurant Week this year. Each location offered special, prix-fixe meals during the event, which ran from April 26 to May 5.
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Wed, Apr 17, 2019 at 11:03 AM
Brent Harrewyn
Vermont has garnered a national reputation for its award-winning specialty food and drink products and inventive, locally focused cuisine. For the last decade, Seven Days’Vermont Restaurant Week has celebrated the state’s chefs, farmers, producers and others food-service professionals that have helped put the Green Mountain State on the map. The event has also raised $95,375.32 and counting for the Vermont Foodbank, the festival’s beneficiary. Seven Days is excited to announce the details of the 10th annual event presented by Vermont Federal Credit Union.
For 10 days, April 26 to May 5, 104 restaurants from Brattleboro to St. Albans will offer special prix-fixe dinners at three price points — $20, $30 or $40 per person. Lunch, brunch and breakfast specials at select locations will also be available. The diversity in cuisine and participating restaurants will whet the appetites of diners across the state. The full list of menus can be found at vermontrestaurantweek.com.
This year’s special foodie events include:
The Sweet Start Smackdown: Dessert comes first at this Restaurant Week-eve kick-off battle, in which local pastry chefs from every corner of the state compete and foodies feast. Scores from celebrity judges and votes from attendees decide the winner of Vermont Restaurant Week’s Signature Sweet. Thursday, April 25, 7-9 p.m., Higher Ground in South Burlington.
Cooking With WhistlePig: Students learn how to prepare a three-course meal featuring WhistlePig Whiskey from a Cook Academy chef at the Essex Culinary Resort & Spa. Friday, April 26, Wednesday, May 1, Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, 5-8 p.m. in Essex.
Pints & Poses Yoga: Join Corey Grenier for an all-levels foodie flow in the brewery. This hourlong vinyasa-style class will focus on digestion, detoxification and mindful eating. End your practice with a pint or a flight. Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m. to noon, Burlington Beer Company in Williston.
Culinary Trivia Night: Feed your brain with foodie trivia and compete for delicious prizes at this rowdy event emceed by Top Hat Entertainment. The grand prize is a $500 gift card to Hen of the Wood. Monday, April 29, 6-9 p.m., Nectar’s in Burlington.
The Sensory Social: Cider and cheese? Yes, please! Join Shacksbury Cider and Vermont Creamery for a fruitful and fraîche guided tasting that will make your senses sing. Tuesday, April 30, 5:30-7 p.m., CO Cellars in Burlington.
The Dish — The Wild World of Fermentation: Hear from brewers, farmers, chefs and business owners about their experiences with fermented products while exploring reputed health benefits, opportunities for preservation of local food, and whether this food trend is here to stay. Wednesday, May 1, 5:30-7 p.m., ArtsRiot in Burlington.
Look for more information about events, participating restaurants and how to donate to the Vermont Foodbank at vermontrestaurantweek.com.
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Thu, Apr 4, 2019 at 11:21 AM
Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
The Good Citizens met with Gov. Phil Scott in his ceremonial office
More than 70 Vermont students who completed the 2018 Good Citizen Challenge gathered at the Statehouse in Montpelier on March 27 to be recognized for their accomplishment.
The Challenge invited K-12 students to earn points by doing a variety of activities related to civics, history, advocacy and media literacy — all crucial elements of being an informed citizen. These activities included attending city council meetings, picking up litter, reading local news articles, writing a letter to an elected official and naming the five freedoms specified in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Seven Days and Kids VTorganized the initiative, with support from the Vermont Community Foundation. Its goal? To incentivize youth to educate themselves about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, using their communities as a classroom. Students finished the Challenge by earning 251 points, the number of towns in Vermont.
The Statehouse event was part of their reward. The Good Citizens met with Governor Phil Scott in his ceremonial office and posed for a group photo.
Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson also addressed the group.
“I think it’s important for all of us to get involved and be good citizens, be public servants,” said the two-term Republican. And anyone can run for office, he said. “I certainly didn’t envision myself being in the position I am today when I was your age, not by a long shot.”
Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson (D-South Hero) also addressed the group.
Representative Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall) introduced the students from the House chamber floor; legislators gave them a round of applause. Afterward, each student received a medal, a T-shirt, a sticker and a pocket-sized U.S. Constitution, donated by Phoenix Books.
Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
Legislators applauded the Good Citizens from the House floor.
Seven Days Deputy Publisher Cathy Resmer congratulated the Good Citizens. “You have just as much right to be in this building as anyone else here,” she told the students in the Cedar Creek Room. “I hope that’s something you’ll take away from your experience today. This might be your first time here, but I hope it won’t be your last.”
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Wed, Apr 3, 2019 at 9:44 AM
Courtney Lamdin
Award-winning journalist Courtney Lamdin is joining the Seven Days news team as a reporter covering the city of Burlington. The native Vermonter has been working at local newspapers since she graduated with a B.A. in journalism from Saint Michael’s College in 2009. She grew a cub reporting gig at the Milton Independent into a six-year stint as editor of the community weekly, then served as executive editor of that publication, plus the Colchester Sun and the Essex Reporter, for three more years. She is currently news editor of the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus.
On Monday, the national trade publication Editor & Publisher featured Lamdin in its “25 Under 35” list of next-generation newspaper leaders.
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 2:24 PM
General Excellence Award
Seven Days, Vermont’s free, independent newsweekly, won 11 first-place awards in this year’s New England Better Newspaper Competition — including for general excellence and top honors for health, crime, government, arts and entertainment reporting, political columnist, infographic, personality profile and niche publication. The paper also won eight second-place and six third-place awards — 25 total.
NENPA members submitted more than 3,000 entries, split among five categories: daily newspapers with circulation up to 25,000; daily newspapers with circulation more than 25,000; weekly newspapers with circulation up to 6,000; weekly newspapers with circulation more than 6,000; and specialty publications. Seven Days — which circulates 36,000 copies every Wednesday — competed against numerous other large, New England weeklies.
Here’s what judges had to say about Seven Days’ 11 first-place awards:
General Excellence. “An alternative weekly that is exceptional! Seven Days is well-written throughout. The reporting is thorough and extensive. The layout is clean and advertising support is impressive.”
Health Reporting, “Committed: A Son's Mental Illness, a Father's Fight,” by Katie Jickling. “This piece exhibited a great deal of compassion… and showed readers the depth and scope of an important public policy problem without drowning us with statistics or policy.”
Political Columnist, “Tradin' Paint” and “Into the Arena,” by John Walters. “John Walters takes political junkies into the middle of the action.”
Two first place awards in the entertainment and feature video categories for two episodes of “Stuck in Vermont”: “A_Dog Day” and “Countryman Peony Farm” by senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger and multimedia journalist James Buck. “A high-quality production. A+.”
Seven Days received second-place honors for best overall website, its investigative reporting series on the nonprofit sector, Give and Take, and for Kids VT, Seven Days’ monthly parenting magazine. Alicia Freese won second place for her education reporting on Saint Michael’s College and health reporting on inmates and addiction. Molly Walsh received second place for her human interest feature on Ryan McLaren, who experienced a life-altering ski accident. Eva Sollberger brought home a second-place award for her video on the “March for our Lives” in Vermont’s capital. Lastly, Kym Balthazar came in second place for her cover illustration on the March 21, 2018, issue.
PostedByCorey Grenier
on Wed, Jan 16, 2019 at 10:52 AM
James Buck
Kate O'Neill
Burlington-based weekly Seven Days has launched a yearlong reporting project chronicling the opioid epidemic in Vermont and efforts to address it. The designated writer of “Hooked: Stories and Solutions From Vermont’s Opioid Crisis” is Kate O’Neill, who has personal experience with the crisis: Her sister, Burlington mom Madelyn Linsenmeir, died last October after years battling addiction.
O’Neill described her sister’s struggles in a heartbreaking obituary published locally in Seven Days. It spread quickly on social media, shared by national reporters and celebrities — even Ivanka Trump. Millions of people worldwide read it, and more than 1,000 left online comments describing their own experiences with addiction.
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