Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin received national attention earlier this month when he devoted his annual “State of the State” address to the problem of addiction and its impact on the criminal justice system. In addition to admitting that Vermont faces a “full-blown heroin crisis,” the governor called for an overhaul in how drug users are treated by the criminal justice system in the state. At the heart of that proposed change is work that directly involves Vermont Law Visiting Professor and former Windsor County State’s Attorney Robert L. Sand.

On Thursday, January 23, 2014, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) held the official Grand Opening for its new branch in St. Albans, located at 295 Tuckers Way. On hand for the event for NEFCU were President and CEO John Dwyer, Board Chair Charles DesLauriers, members of senior management and project staff, and the St. Albans branch staff. Representatives from the architectural firm Freeman French Freeman, general contractor Breadloaf Construction, and Ruggiano Engineering were in attendance.

Montshire Museum of Science Executive Director David Goudy has announced his plans to retire in March 2015, following 34 years as the Museum's executive director. During his tenure, Goudy led the Museum from a fledgling enterprise to a nationally recognized center for science learning. He has taken special interest in developing the Museum's capacity for high-quality science education particularly in the context of the special challenges of serving a rural region.

The late Laura Roberts of Putney was posthumously awarded Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC’s Diane R. Lynch Distinguished Service Award at the law firm’s holiday party. Roberts, who passed away in May, was an administrative assistant in DRM’s Brattleboro office for seven years.

Dr. Michael Mason started his practice in central Vermont in 1982. Central Vermont Medical Centert is grateful to Dr. Mason for his more than three decades of service to the community.

Dr. Mason will be closing his private practice as of March 30, 2014. However, he will continue to help cover the general surgery service as an “on-call” physician for Central Vermont Medical Center. He will no longer see patients in the office, but will continue to share the night and weekend coverage of general surgery along with Dr. Ed Ziedins and Dr. Mark Crane.

Barre resident Jean Rubalcaba has been a volunteer at Central Vermont Medical Center for 45 years, since the hospital opened in 1968.

She was born and raised in Barre and graduated from Spaulding High School. Jean married Daniel and they raised three children – Deborah, Daniel and Karin. She worked as a stay at home Mom and day care provider before working at Peoples National Bank, retiring from Key Bank as a branch manager.