WOODBURY – In a year shaped by civic deliberation, community collaboration and events both joyful and somber, Woodbury embraced 2025 with spirit rural Vermonters are known for. From town meetings and holiday gatherings, to news that captured statewide attention, stories from the small Washington County town reflect the varied texture of everyday life.
2025 began with the Woodbury Select Board continuing its regular schedule of meetings, navigating budget planning and foundational decisions that would set the tone for the year. An early report highlighted issues such as pending FEMA reimbursements for flood repairs, corrections to town road classifications, and preparations for town meeting.
At the February 10 board session, members discussed USDA flood-plain grant programs and planned for town meeting.
On March 1, Woodbury’s annual town meeting saw a robust turnout, with about 80 citizens gathering in the Woodbury Elementary School gymnasium for deliberation and votes.
Select Board Chair Diana Peduzzi was re-elected to a three-year term, and long-time treasurer Brandy Smith was thanked for 11 years of faithful service as she left that role.
Woodbury voters approved all budget articles, including the town’s operating budget of $570,426, a highway fund of $775,882, and support for the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department and community library.
Moderator Stephen Murphy and Town Clerk Robin Durkee were confirmed to continue in their roles. Notably, community member Skip Marchesani praised the Woodbury Community Library from the floor, reminding neighbors of its importance as a civic hub.
In the spring, select board business included pay increases for town positions and work on key community infrastructure projects. The board continued oversight of flood-related repairs and stewardship of ARPA funds, as well as discussions about future needs like windows and waterproofing for the town office.
The season saw news when a body was found along Route 14 in Woodbury on June 19. Initially classified as suspicious, the Vermont State Police later identified the victim as 38-year-old Tina Daigle of Hardwick, whose death was later ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.
The investigation drew further attention in August with the arrest of Michael Williams, 60, of Morrisville, charged with second-degree murder and first-degree aggravated domestic assault in connection with Daigle’s death. A December appeal of a judge’s order to deny bail resulted in an order for a bail hearing to be held.
At a select board meeting In August, local resident Tom Peltz urged the board to keep Daigle’s case in the public eye, highlighting ongoing grief and questions among neighbors.
Life in Woodbury also took lighter turns in 2025. Cultural engagement was vibrant: the Woodbury Community Library hosted exhibits like “Headwaters and Mind Puddles” by artist Leif Goldberg, adding creative flair to the summer months.
As school resumed in the fall, local elementary students gained recognition when Woodbury Elementary’s Hibernation Feast, a culmination of farm-to-fork learning and school community collaboration, was featured on WCAX.
Outside the school walls, holiday poetry evenings, a craft show and bake sale at Calais-Woodbury United Church and monthly winter potlucks beginning in November created opportunities for neighbors to gather.
Fall select board agendas, such as at the October 13 meeting, reflected ongoing oversight of school facilities and broader financial planning. Woodbury’s representatives to the Mountain View Union Elementary School District, including Darren Usinowicz and Heather Meacham, reported on elementary school repair needs and district budget considerations.
The Santa Fin holiday event on December 6 brought seasonal music and storytelling to the town hall, and plans for carol singing on December 20 on the Woodbury Village Green offered neighbors the chance to gather and ward off the winter’s chill.
The Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department provided mutual aid in a structure fire in Hardwick on December 4, exemplifying cooperation among neighboring towns.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
