Vermont

Wild Hart Distillery in Shelburne Closes

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2024

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Wild Hart Distillery in Shelburne Closes

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File: Daria Bishop
Owner Craig Stevens

At the end of February, Craig Stevens officially ceased production at his Wild Hart Distillery in Shelburne. Stevens did one final production run in mid-February, he told Seven Days, and expects the state’s 802Spirits stores to be stocked with bottles of Wild Hart gin, vodka and other products for the next two to four months.

Stevens cofounded the distillery in 2017 and has been its sole owner since June 2018. Wild Hart was a fixture at Vermont farmers markets, selling products such as its Vermont Classic, blood orange, and pear and ginger gins at as many as 19 markets from Burlington to Montpelier to Rutland. The distillery had several local tasting rooms over the years, and its products were distributed as far as the mid-Atlantic.

“As a small, owner-run business, I’ve been doing everything from accounting to cleaning toilets to marketing and sales to actually making the alcohol,” Stevens said. “You get caught up in the grind.”

As the costs of bottles and other production materials, staffing, and shipping rose, “margins were getting smaller and smaller,” he continued. Wild Hart’s accessible pricing — a sweet spot of $29.99, Stevens said — was no longer realistic in the changing market.

In the fall, emergency surgery on a torn retina forced Stevens to pause and consider his work-life balance. He closed the distillery’s bar and tasting room at 26 Sage Court in December, hoping staff could find new jobs before Dry January. Rather than sign a new multiyear lease at the end of February, he opted to close the business.

Wild Hart served as an incubator for small spirits brands such as Rectified Bourbon, Linchpin and Arcana Botanica Spirits, maker of Fernet Vexia. Stevens mentored their owners while they used Wild Hart’s equipment to produce their spirits, paying commissions rather than rent. Matt Grant of Linchpin will now be based at South Hero’s Snow Farm Vineyard & Distillery, Snow Farm co-owner Dave Lane confirmed, and Stevens is working with the others to find homes.

“We’re always oscillating between investing in our careers and investing in ourselves, and I’m moving back to investing in myself and my family,” Stevens said. “Now I get to be on the other side of the table for all these farmers markets, supporting our huge community of makers.”

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Vermont

Here are five places to ice skate in Vermont this winter

Published

10 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

23 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.