December 04 , 2025
Ware, Weston and Parsons named to Sugarbush Wall of Fame
This year Mike Ware, Pate Weston and the late John Parsons were inducted into Sugarbush’s Wall of Fame. The Sugarbush Wall of Fame was established in 2018-2019 and recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to “cultivating a spirit of lifelong adventure and camaraderie among Sugarbush staff, guests, and the community.”
The three inductees were celebrated at the Wall of Fame event on Saturday, December 13, at 6 p.m.
December 12 , 2025
Student plans to show Gazan protest documentary delayed due to pushback
Community objections led to the postponement of showing a documentary at Harwood Union High School last month. A student club’s plan to show the documentary, “The Encampments,” focusing on U.S. college student protests of the Israel-Palestine conflict, were shelved shortly after its showing was announced. The Harwood student club, Community Action for Racial Equity, (called “CARE” for short), planned to show the film on November 18 and sell snacks as a fundraiser for Palestinian families.
Shortly afterward the screening was announced the school district began receiving complaints from a handful of local community members as well as other individuals and Jewish advocacy groups in Vermont.
In response, the club chose to postpone the event. In a statement members said, “Our club recognizes that these topics carry deep personal meaning for many community members, and that people experience the Israel-Palestine conflict in profoundly different and often painful ways. After reflecting on the concerns shared, the students do not want any member of our community to feel targeted, unsafe, or harmed by the existence of this event.”
December 12 , 2025
Planning district updates potential LOT revenue for local towns
Local select boards are revisiting the financial benefits of a local option tax as the Mad River Planning District continues to update possible yields from such a tax. Current data shows that Waitsfield could reap as much as $552,147 and Warren $495,736 if the towns adopt a 1% tax on rooms, meals, alcohol, and retail sales. Because of Fayston’s relatively low number of businesses, state data needed to calculate that yield was not readily available. The Mad River Valley Planning District (MRVPD) and Fayston Select Board have reached out to the state seeking that data.
State changes if a local option tax is imposed will result in higher yields for towns that adopt them, primarily because online sales can now be taxed as well. That means that Warren’s potential yield increased from $416,305 to $495,736 and Waitsfield’s increased from $465,358 to $552,147. There are exemptions in the retail portion of the sales tax for food, medicine and other necessities.
The planning district analysis showed that in Warren 24% of the funds raised by local LOTs would come from local residents and 76% of those funds would come from visitors and guests or $178 per household annually. In Waitsfield those figures are 25% and 75% or $221 per household annually.
Currently 38 municipalities have LOTs, including Waterbury, Berlin, and Barre. Towns are using the funds to support infrastructure, public services, housing, and economic development.
December 12 , 2025
Truck explodes on German Flats, triggering Hazmat response
German Flats Road in Fayston was closed for over 24 hours the second week of the month after a dump truck exploded. The cause of the explosion that destroyed a dump truck and closed German Flats Road on December 9 was not known. The Waitsfield-Fayston Volunteer Fire Department responded to the 12:22 p.m. call. The Mad River Valley Ambulance Service transported the driver of the truck to CVMC with smoke inhalation. The explosion took place in the southbound lane of German Flats above Fayston Elementary School and before the Mount Ellen access road. The road was closed through the end of the day and cold temps hampered the clean-up attempts. Diesel, motor oil and other fluids, as well as the fiberglass from the cab ended up on the side of the road and ran down the travel lane along with firefighting fluids.
Firefighters worked to contain the hazardous materials with dams, absorbent materials, booms, and sand from the Fayston road crew.
December 18 , 2025
The Valley Reporter creates nonprofit trust to secure its future
The Valley Reporter is joining many of the state’s longest publishing newspapers in creating a nonprofit arm to allow the paper to seek grants and accept tax deductible donations.
The Valley Reporter has served the Mad River Valley since 1971. It is currently co-owned by publisher Patricia Clark and editor Lisa Loomis. The Valley Reporter Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will allow readers and foundations whose mission is supporting democracy and civic engagement through local journalism, to make tax exempt donations. The nonprofit will work hand-in-hand with The Valley Reporter, as well as independently, to promote excellence in local journalism and promote civic engagement and education.
The newspaper and the trust will remain two separate entities and readers, subscribers and advertisers will see no changes in their weekly paper. On a quarterly basis, the newspaper will write grants for news projects and initiatives that would benefit the paper (and the Mad River Valley) and the nonprofit will consider whether to fund them. Loomis will serve as the initial chair of the nonprofit board. Donations to the trust can be mailed to Valley Reporter Trust, P.O. Box 119, Waitsfield VT 05673. Donations can also be made at valleyreporter.com (and a Venmo option is coming soon.
Two new restaurants open in Waitsfield
The Mad Moose Bar and Grill opened in early December at the site of the former Blue Stone in Waitsfield. Joy Bar and Restaurant opened the second weekend in December in the space that formerly housed Collaborative Brewing.
The Mad Moose is a family-run business offering pizza, classic American fare with long-range plans for artisan cabins to a high-traffic section of Route 100.
Operated by Eric and Erin Vreeken and their family, they are leasing the building from property owner Talmage Jestice who purchased the property this fall.
Vreeken’s family experience spans several previous ventures, including running a deli in Lake George and a distribution company in Colchester that serves Shaw’s and other regional supermarkets.
In addition to reopening the restaurant space, the Vreekens plan to add six artisan cabins along the treeline behind the building.
“In the spring, we plan on building some artisan cabins on the property,” Vreeken said. “We’re looking to put six 10-by-14 cabins along the east side of the treeline where our parking lot is.”
Emma Delphin is opening Joy which she described as “loosely Mediterranean-inspired.”
The restaurant will offer lunch and dinner, with “lots of small plates,” and a focus on local and organic ingredients. Delphin said she is already working with area farms for produce and meats, including Fifth Quarter for specials and charcuterie items.
Delphin has worked in restaurants for more than 20 years and had been bartending at Mad River Glen for several years.
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