About The Civic

HILLARY ABBOTT

Growing up in the lavish, muggy hills of Vermont, Hillary never really knew what she wanted to be. Fast forward 42 years and, well, she still doesn’t. But it seems she enjoys bookkeeping and financial madness enough to have landed herself a few related gigs. At the Civic, you’ll find her in the back corners of dark rooms, pouring over receipts and muttering to herself. She lives in Hardwick with her humans, her dogs, and an uninspiring assortment of farm animals. 

JUSTIN LANDER

Justin Lander is a comedian, musician and designer. At the Civic he handles graphic design, event creation, set design, and whatever else is needed to. Outside of the Civic Standard he tours puppet shows with Modern Times Theater, performs charity auctions and plays the bass in a variety of musical projects.

TARA REESE

Tara Reese is a co-founder of the Civic Standard. She is a cook, artist, event producer, and mutual aid organizer. She creates collaborative and unexpected gatherings in which to share food, experience, and grow a shared understanding. She lives in Walden with her son and a small herd of sheep.

MIKE DONOFRIO

Mike Donofrio lives around here, plays bass, practices law, rides bikes, and generally tries to be helpful. He was drawn to the Civic because connection is the key and the Civic is all about it, in a really good way.

KELLY NOTTERMANN

Kelly Nottermann is a writer, farmer, and weird human being.  A graduate of the University at Buffalo, Kelly has spent her “professional” years as a reporter, storyteller, advertising copywriter and now a communications director. She lives in Hardwick with her family and a pile of chickens, a fish named Blub Blub, a Guinea pig, a corgi, and a lot of cows, pigs and sheep.

SARA HEDRICK

Sara has volunteered in several Civic productions. In her working life she is seasoned geospatial analyst who has built a
career working in the public sector. She has an interest in fiber arts. In her free time, she is always finding something to get up to. She lives in Woodbury.

ANDREW MAY

Andrew May has participated in all the major Civic Theater Project productions. He is the founder of consulting firm Wild Branch Sustainability Strategies, LLC. He is a Researcher with the University of Vermont, and is working to complete a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development Policy, Economics, and Governance. Andrew enjoys all forms of music, outdoor fun, and spending time with his wife and two cats.

KENT OSBORNE

Kent Osborne played an un-frightening gorilla in the Garage of Doom and helped write the game show Change Your Life for which he also provided sound effects. A born follower, Kent loves carrying chairs and boxes. Outside of the Civic, Kent writes and storyboards cartoons for TV and lives in Hardwick. 

CHRISTINA SACALIS

Christina Sacalis is a hand-weaver, textile-designer, hand-mender, design-junkie and avid thrifter. She co-created The Mending Circle, now The Craft Collective, as a way to weave together community through craft. When not at her loom, she can be found at local rummages or playing disc golf. She lives with her family at the end of a horrible driveway in Cabot.

HAYLEY WILLIAMS

Hayley is a wanna be Hardwickian, who currently lives in Craftsbury. She owns a tiny house which she shares with her rescue dog, Luna. She works at the Center for an Agricultural Economy & spends way too much time at Front Seat Coffee. She enjoys supporting (and being supported by!) the Civic Standard in more ways than one.

MARIA AMADOR

Maria Amador is a writer and recent graduate of Dartmouth College. She was born in Cuba and raised in Miami, FL, and never expected to end up loving rural Vermont—but she does. Her dream is to listen closely, write true stories, and live alongside at least 7 dogs. For now, she lives in Hardwick with her partner, and she wants to hear what you have to say.

HELEN SHER

Helen Sher is a recent graduate of Smith College and a long time lover of Vermont. She is an avid emailer, spreadsheet maker, and organizer of both community events and Google Drives. She is a theater and dance maker and currently lives in Hardwick.

TOBIN ANDERSON

Tobin (M. T.) Anderson is a local writer for children, teens, and adults, author of books that have won various awards including the National Book Award and the L.A. Times Book Prize. His children's novel, Elf Dog & Owl Head, won a Newbery Honor. He has written nonfiction pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, and Salon. He lives down the road from Hardwick in Calais.

ANNIE HOUSTON

Annie Houston is a descendant of generations upon generations of tall and witty Vermonters. She's a lifelong lover of laughter, creating stories in her head, and devising ways to bring people together. Annie has built a career in public service, first in the cultural sector and more recently education. She grew up in Craftsbury and now makes her home high on a hill in Walden.

JESSIE UPSON

Jessie Upson has crafted a mix of work that supports her preferred lifestyle—one that prioritizes slowing down, contemplation, wandering in the woods, being with family, and creating art and relationships. She helps deliver babies, waits tables, reads tarot, and runs a business with her sisters in the farmhouse where she grew up in Craftsbury.  Jessie now lives with her family in Hardwick. She was drawn to The Civic Standard for its expansive ideas and the permission to create.

HEATHER LANPHEAR

Heather, a Mac mama rippie, is a regular contributor to both the community supper, and the civic theater project.

With 30 years in the area (a

flatlander by birth) she aspires to laughter and community hysterics with The Civic. Around town you can hear her infectious laughter at the Buffalo Mountain Market (coop) where she's part of the team. Her home team is her parter and kids, who reside in Woodbury.

HILARY MAYNARD

Hilary Maynard is a career learner and teacher, having been an educator in a variety of contexts since 2001. The throughline in all of her work is facilitating moments for youth to realize themselves in community with others, near and far. Her work at The Civic offers youth opportunities to explore and advocate for their futures. She lives in Craftsbury.

BECCA PERRIN

Becca is a thrift hound, natural fiber enthusiast and local food nerd. She has been hacking and rearranging garments since her early teens in the indie sleaze era, when she was always too tall to fit the styles of the day. Since then she has been passionate about quality fashion for all, and lives by the motto "use it up, wear it out, swap that sh*t, or do without". She lives on a little homestead in Craftsbury with her husband and two cats.

JEANNE SEGRETTO

Jeanne Segretto Miller is an enthusiastic volunteer at the Civic.  Jeanne is a local teacher, musician, homesteader and community organizer and loves being in service to these things.    Jeanne’s love of community and food has made her a guest cook for community supper.  Jeanne and her sons Will and JD are frequent visitors to supper and enjoy staying connected with neighbors. 

ROSE FRIEDMAN

Rose Friedman is a theater maker, director, community organizer, and performer. She co-founded and directs the Civic Standard, and tours original shows to unlikely rural regions as Modern Times Theater. Rose studied at the Moscow Art Theater and New School University, and toured with Bread and Puppet Theater for over a decade. She lives with her family in East Hardwick.

ERICA HEILMAN

Erica Heilman produces a podcast called Rumble Strip in East Calais Vermont.

LAUREN ANTLER

Lauren Antler is a comedian, storyteller, writer, arts administrator and producer.  A graduate of Barnard College and Teachers College  Lauren has spent her 25 years in the arts including TV production, theater, circus, non-profit administration and as an entrepreneur. She lives in Montpelier with her family and crochets cowls. 

DANIELLE LIVELLARA

Danielle Livellara is a Human Design business consultant, bookkeeper and money medicine guide.  She's one of those strange folk who love to talk about money.  When she's not wondering if she's got enough firewood put up for the winter, she's singing with her new band, Lake Party.  She lives in Woodbury with her plant friends.

NATASHEA WINTERS

Natashea is a public health social worker who has dedicated all of her professional career working for and alongside nonprofits. Her current work encompasses program development and evaluation. She and her family moved to Vermont in 2020 and call Craftsbury home. 

RAY LEWIS

Ray Lewis is a lifelong musician and a sugarmaker by trade. After taking a 30-year detour from his music career to start a family and a farm in Walden, he’s back playing, learning and teaching music. You’ll catch him watering plants at the Civic, playing guitar, banjo and fiddle at the old-time junket, leading free music classes, and encouraging others to live out their musical dreams.

TOM  MURPHY

After trying his hand (and other body parts) at ballet studying with the NYC Ballet, then

spending two years as a professional acrobatic skier in winter, and street performer in summer, Tom Murphy settled on being a slapstick comedian. He has won several awards on the

International stage and taught students around the world how to fall funny. After 49 years of

globe hopping Tom is settling down in Waterbury Center with his partner, where he is 10

minutes from groomed x-c skiing and 25 minutes from the Alpine lift.

LESLIE ROSS

Leslie Ross moved to Hardwick in 2024, relocating from New Orleans where she learned about Shut Up and Write. She is working on her first novel. Her favorite authors are Henry James and Sophie Kinsella. 

VAIVA VELZIS

Vaiva Velzis is an organizer, educator, poet, and sound artist, dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and supported. Now in their second year as Hazen Union's Community School Coordinator, Vaiva draws on experience in harm reduction, mental health advocacy, and holistic student care. Grounded in a love for myth, play, and the more-than-human world, Vaiva seeks to bring joy, curiosity, and imagination into all they do. They are currently building a cabin with their partner in the woods of Walden.