Vermont

Made in Vermont: Cryptcelium

Published

2 years ago

February 26, 2024

BRANDON, Vt. (WCAX) – The whimsy of the woods, captured through art.

“We struggle to explain our art when people ask us that,” said Stephany Faris, one of two people on a mission to bring the outdoors inside.

“This all started from the obsession, really, with mushrooms and nature,” said Jonathan Faris, the other half of the equation. “We’ve realized how magical it is really, and we wanted to capture that.”

When this duo isn’t at work, you can find them in the forest, foraging for unique finds on the tail end of their life. Once they have their bounty collected, they use it to create art for their business, Cryptcelium. Jonathan and Stephany call their work a collaboration with nature, with the goal of celebrating the harmony between the natural world and human creation.

“We wanted to figure out how we could capture and preserve the life that’s in the Vermont woods,” Stephany said.

By incorporating dead and decaying elements of nature into art, the two believe they’re continuing the life cycle. Their studio is where foraged finds take on new life.

“You know the world sort of stops and you just sort of, you just get into a flow and it evolves from there,” said Stephany.

The things they make run the gamut, from wall hangings to table pieces, jewelry and candles. Each artist takes on their own projects, growing and expanding their skills a long the way to make new art.

“A lot of my pieces have accents that glow, so I have to do a lot of phosphorus,” said Jonathan. “That’s been like a steep evolutionary change.”

As you might imagine, Jonathan and Stephany’s work for Cryptcelium turns heads wherever they go. Be it at festivals or markets, their work always draws a crowd, and sometimes, a conversation.

“A lot of nostalgia is one of the cool things, too. They see something and it brings them back to maybe something they haven’t thought of in 20 years, 30 years,” explained Jonathan.

While it’s a challenge to put their art into one category, something that remains the same across the board is the heart and soul that goes into each piece.

“We really just wanted to make it so that you could have something that you could look at when you came home and just have a sense of peace with that,” said Stephany.

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Related Topics:art Artists brandon Business creation Cryptcelium Featured made makers nature news vermont WCAX woods

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Vermont

Here are five places to ice skate in Vermont this winter

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Here are five places to ice skate in Vermont this winter

How to see a reindeer in Vermont

Vermont Reindeer Farm in West Charleston is home to the only three reindeer, or caribou, living in the state. Here’s what it’s like to visit them.

Looking for ways to enjoy the rest of the cold New England winter?

While staying indoors often seems better than facing the cold, the region has lots of outdoor activities that brighten the winter season, including skiing, snow tubing and, of course, ice skating. From Burlington to Stratton, Vermont has plenty of indoor and outdoor ice rinks, many of which offer lessons, concessions and special events in addition to ice skating.

Here are five places in Vermont where you can go ice skating this winter.

Spruce Peak Village Ice Rink

This outdoor ice rink is located in the heart of the village at Spruce Peak, a ski resort in Stowe formerly known as Stowe Mountain Lodge.

Guests can skate daily surrounded by the majestic ski slopes of the Green Mountains. On Friday nights, the Spruce Peak Village ice rink hosts glow skate parties with a light show, glow sticks and a live DJ. Skate rentals and lessons are also available for purchase.

When: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday or noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Spruce Peak, 7412 Mountain Road, Stowe

Ice Haus Arena

Located up at Jay Peak Resort near the Canadian border, Ice Haus Arena is the newest ice-skating arena in the state. The indoor rink is complete with bleacher seating, a rental and repair shop, four locker rooms, a pro shop, a snack bar and of course, an NHL-sized rink where guests can participate in public skating or skating with sticks and pucks.

General admission to the rink is $6, with skate rentals available for $6, skate sharpening available for $7 and helmets available for $3.

When: Online schedule updated daily

Where: Jay Peak Resort, 830 Jay Peak Road, Jay

C. Douglas Cairns Recreation Arena

This indoor arena has not one, but two NHL-size ice rinks for hockey, public skating and stick and puck practices. Off the ice, Cairns Arena also offers a pro shop and a cafe with hot food, snacks and drinks.

Skating at Cairns costs $5 for adults or $3 for children and seniors, and skates are available to rent for an additional $5.

When: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday, with exceptions. Check the online schedule at cairnsarena.finnlyconnect.com..

Where: 600 Swift St., South Burlington

Mill House at Stratton Mountain Resort

Surrounded by the scenic Stratton Mountain Resort, Mill House Pond is the perfect outdoor spot for public ice skating or skating lessons.

Public skating costs $20, and bookings can be made online.

When: Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday or noon to 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday and Sunday-Monday

Where: Stratton Mountain Resort, 5 Village Lodge Road, Stratton Mountain

Riley Rink at Hunter Park

A large indoor sports facility, Northshore Civic Center has an Olympic-sized ice rink, along with a concession stand and retail shop. The rink offers public skating, stick and puck practice, hockey and skating lessons.

When: Check the online schedule for weekly updates

Where: 410 Hunter Park Road, Manchester Center

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Vermont

Unemployment claims in Vermont increased last week

Published

15 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Unemployment claims in Vermont increased last week

Staff reports
| USA TODAY Network

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Vermont rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 375 in the week ending February 21, up from 357 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 212,000 last week, up 4,000 claims from 208,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Rhode Island saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 132.0%. Michigan, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 49.9%.

USA TODAY Co. is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment insurance claims report.

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Vermont

Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Thursday, Feb. 26

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Thursday, Feb. 26

The 2025-2026 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

▶ Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

▶ Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.