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Amanda Swinhart.

Vermont rescue team sees increase of calls as social media lures skiers into danger

December 9, 2025

Stowe Mountain Rescue in Vermont has noticed a troubling trend among skiers. Influenced by social media, inexperienced skiers are venturing out of bounds, getting lost and needing rescue. The team last month responded to a 911 call from two 19-year-olds lost on Mount Mansfield. They had followed social media videos to ski in the backcountry. The rescue chief says these skiers are often unprepared and lack spatial awareness. Stowe Mountain Rescue now handles about eight missions per season, up from around three about five years ago. The team plans to create social media posts to promote safe skiing practices.

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People walk by Nectar's, the music club where jam band Phish got their start, in downtown Burlington, Vt., Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

Nectar’s, the Vermont venue that launched Phish, closes on a quiet note after 50 years

October 4, 2025

The iconic Vermont venue known for launching the jam band Phish and fostering a variety of music and musicians has closed its doors after 50 years. Nectar’s said in June that it was taking a summer pause due to challenges in downtown Burlington. But weeks later, it announced that it wouldn’t reopen at all, citing economic struggles and downtown construction as contributing factors. The club hosted many artists and was famous for its regular music series. Community members say its absence leaves a significant gap in Burlington’s music scene.

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A black lab carved into a wooden pew is pictured in the Dog Chapel at Dog Mountain, a 150-acre dog park created by Vermont folk artist Stephen Huneck, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in St. Johnsbury, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

A massive mountain park in Vermont celebrates the bond between dogs and their humans

August 17, 2025

Set on 150 acres tucked away on a hillside in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Dog Mountain has become a destination for dog lovers looking to explore nature, take in art, or pay tribute to a pet. The park was created 25 years ago by Vermont folk artist Stephen Huneck and his wife Gwen. It features hiking trails, swimming ponds, an art gallery and a Dog Chapel where visitors can add to the thousands of photos and notes to pets that cover the chapel walls. Gallery Manager Pam McCann says Huneck was inspired by the bond he shared with his dogs and wanted to create a space where other animal lovers could celebrate their beloved pets.

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