WOODBURY – The town’s first Saturday town meeting, March 2, was well attended by approximately 120 people. Chris Koteas, select board chair, chose to step down from the position. His position was filled by Chris Casey. The final article before adjournment, “To transact any other non-binding business that may legally come before the meeting” raised the question of supporting a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip conflict between Israel and Palestine. The question was initially called out of order by Moderator Stephen Murphy, but subsequent debate and a paper ballot allowed the question to come to the floor for discussion, where it ultimately passed.
Fire Chief Paul Cerutti heard from a friend on Friday, March 8, that a Senate appropriations bill had just passed with $1,125,000 for an addition to the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department emergency services and operations center.
One hundred twenty pies were made by members of the community and 206 people attended the 21st Woodbury Pie Breakfast and silent auction fundraiser for the library.
A poetry reading was held Thursday, April 11, at the Woodbury Community Library where anyone was welcome to share their work or a poem by a different author.
A select board meeting, April 22, ended after eight-minutes when a resident refused to sit down when he was asked to as Chris Casey said, “I’m going to ask you . . . We’re going to move on. You need to sit down.”
In June construction had begun on the Woodbury Fire Station at 3618 Rte. 14. The foundation had been completed and the contractor was to begin installing the footing drains, floor drains and water and sewer lines. Work on framing for the 4,100-square-foot one-story building was scheduled to start in mid-July.
The Woodbury Broad Band played well-known songs in the village of Woodbury for International Make Music Day.
Woodbury received 4.29 inches of rain on July 10 and 11. A 6:46 a.m. report indicated, “Vt. Rte. 14 in Woodbury is closed just south of the Woodbury-Hardwick town line due to trees down involving wires. Seek alternate route.”
By early afternoon July 11, Route 14 had reopened from Hardwick through Woodbury and into East Montpelier. Floodwaters had subsided around the fire station.
A community singalong with song leader Heidi Wilson Friday was scheduled July 12 at the Woodbury Community Library. No singing experience is necessary as the group sings songs about water.
Angela V. Grace had an opening reception July 26 for her “Outside the Lines” exhibit of 25 acrylic paintings, watercolor paintings, prints, colored paper collages and several sculptures at the Woodbury Community Library, until August 28.
Road Foreman Alfred Larrabee said they hadn’t had much time for grading, due to the weather and lack of manpower. Areas of the rail trail were closed and Nichols Ledge Road was impassable by car. The damage, however, would not require nearly as much repair work as last year’s flooding. Larrabee said getting the smaller roads passable is his focus.
The select board was looking for a new treasurer August 26, the new animal control officer had four dogs to deal with and Town Clerk Robin Durkee told the board they had an abandoned refrigerator to deal with in the middle of the village on Vt. Rte. 14.
Jerry Schneider taught elementary school students about echolocation in bats, September 27.
Construction continued on the new Woodbury Fire Department, with drywall installed and taping soon to begin, October 5. Bank stabilization was complete with the septic system to be put in.
Woodbury Fire Department attended vehicle extrication and electric vehicle training hosted by Hardwick Fire Department, October 19.
Manuel Gomez pleaded no contest in Washington County Superior criminal court in Barre to two charges of second-degree murder as well as first-degree arson in the deaths of Carol Fradette and David Thompson of Woodbury in 2018. Gomez will serve 20 years to life.
Thirty-five residents joined CV Fiber representatives, November 2, at the Woodbury Community Library to hear about new high-speed broadband internet service options coming soon to town.
Town Clerk Durkee said voter turnout in Woodbury was up for the November 5 election, especially walk-ins. “We had 366 mail-in ballots this year,” she said. Woodbury hand counts their votes, a lengthy process.
Vermont River Conservancy announced, November 6, it had taken the final steps to permanently protect 6,250 acres owned by Northeast Wilderness Trust at the headwaters of the Lamoille and Winooski Rivers in Woodbury, Worcester, Elmore and Hardwick.
At the November 11 meeting, the select board discussed tech upgrades, learned almost 75% of voters cast ballots November 5 and discussed the claim by a resident that a town truck had kicked up a stone that damaged his windshield and wanted compensation for the repair. Nine 2023 FEMA flood repair projects had been approved for $206,953 at 90% reimbursement.
Woodbury School students learned how to start a fire with friction, November 13, in the town forest.
On November 14, Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) Assistant Chief Neill discovered a one-car rollover in the area of 588 Route 14 while driving his town dump truck for his day job. Neill called the crash in and approached the vehicle where he discovered the lone occupant entrapped upside down in the car. Rescue jacks were used to stabilize the car and the jaws of life removed the doors to provide access to the patient. The patient was out of the car and receiving advanced medical treatment within 24 minutes, then transported by ambulance to the East Calais ballfield to meet the helicopter.
A fire that spread from a chimney on County Road, November 18, was extinguished quickly by the Woodbury Fire Department.
The board was still talking about what to say to a resident who claimed a town truck had damaged his truck’s windshield.
