November 2009

Janek Skawski

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 338)

For Americans of a certain age, the Cold War with Russia is a memory from years ago.  There were occasional bomb drills where school children practiced hiding under their desks until the all clear signal came on.  Americans of a certain age were convinced by the government that there was the possibility that Russia might drop a nuclear bomb on us – some said “Better Red Than Dead.”  But for Janet Skawski, 42, living under a Communist Poland was reality.  It was very real.

When Janek was growing up on a farm in  Poland near Karkow in the 80s, it was under Communism; a military dictatorship.  He recalls the shortages of food and everything else; from bread and butter to shoes.  The lines were very long and sometimes there was nothing at the end of the line to buy.  Everything that was made in Poland went to Russia or a western nation like the United States, France, Germany or England.  Poland nedded hard currency for the arms race.

In 1986, Janek defected from Poland with a group of about 30 students from the University of Krakow where he was a student.  He was forced to leave behind his family.  First the train went to Germany and then to Switzerland.  He spent nine months in a refugee camp in Austria.  “At that age, life is about excitement,” said Janek several weeks ago at the Holltop Coffee Shop. He said it was very difficult for a young person his age to get a passport out of  Poland at the time.  

In 1987, he found a sponsor in Minnesota so he was able to move there.  “People in Minnesoa were great, much friendlier than in Maine,” he said.  He moved on to Wisconsin where he was a mechanical engineer for five years. 

Janek lives on the Hill and works for METSO Paper USA again as a mechanical engineer in the area.  He is able to return to Poland often to see his parents and a brother who still live there.

“Smile.  There is a lot to smile about here,” he says his face finally breaking out into a wide grin.

Mark Swann, Director of Preble Street and Chuck Igo, Organizer for "Stuff The Bus" Food Drive

By Carol McCracken  (Post 337)

Just before noon today, a school bus loaded with  91,869 lbs. of food arrived at Preble Street where volunteers were waiting for it to arrive.  When it arrived, the dozen or so volunteers formed a long chain starting at the loaded bus door passing box after box of food to the next person in line until it was all inside Preble Street.  It took about an hour or so to get the job done.   “Stuff ‘The Bus” is the name of this 18 year old tradition said Chuck Igo, an early morning DJ for Y1009 radio station. He’s  organized the food drive  for the past four years.

“This our biggest food drive of the year for Maine’s biggest soup kitchen and pantry,” said Elena Schmidt, director of development for Preble Street and also a Hill resident.  “We want to be sure that any one who is hungry can find the food they need whether it’s a soup kitchen or a food pantry.  We are now working to end hunger, to find ways that people can support their families and themselves,” she said.

Igo began approaching schools and businesses in the area several months ago looking for donations of food.  Sponsors came through with cash.  Chuck cited many who gave to make this food drive a success once again.  Classic Bus & Limousine supplied the bus collecting the food from different sources in the area.  There were 8 major corporate contributors including Wright Express, Down East Energy, Cabot Cheese and House of Lights.  Students from Longfellow School were generous.  It took them 30 minutes to “Stuff the Bus” with their donations,” Igo said.

“THAT’S  Thanksgiving,” he said.

Steve DiMillo, Charlie Poole and Dick Ingalls, former Portland Harbor Commissioner

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 336)

Yesterday afternoon the city’s planning board held another workshop initiated by a coalition of Commercial Street wharf owners requesting a relaxation of the zoning ordinance to permit more non-marine useage for the wharves.  Late last month, three representatives of the Waterfront Central Zone (WCZ) urged the planning board to consider its written text amendment as presented to them previously.

However, Steve DiMillo, Charlie Poole and Dick Ingalls representing WCZ were clearly stunned and frustrated by the  “Draft Policy Review Process and Timeline”  the city’s planning board staff presented to them at the meeting. ( The process would begin in January 2010 and end next summer.)  That’s because there has to be a complete review  of the Comprehensive Plan before any text amendment changes can be made to it;  possibly opening the door to the relaxations to the ordinance sought by the WCZ could be set in motion.  The City Council could see the text amendent on July 5,  2010, but not before most likely for action.  

Steve DiMillo said he was “stunned and taken aback by the length of the timeline” proposed by the city’s staff.  Dick Ingalls said  “streamlining the process to give wharf owners some relief or shortening of the process would be appreciated.” Following the meeting Ingalls said:  “We’ve written the text amendent four times.  We want it considered ASAP.”

During the public comment segment of the workshop, Steve DiMillo said he was “stunned and taken aback” by the length of the  timeline

The kickoff of the process oulined by Bill Needleman, city senior planner, called for a two part process starting with an information collection and a policy and text development segments.  The first of the information collection meetings is scheduled for January 12, 2010.  At that meeting a number of issues would be addressed including legal issues such as submerged lands and shore land zone.  Another meeting scheduled for January 26, focuses on “State of the Port” including a report on Maine Industries, Tourism and Non-Marine Sector Data.  There are two public forums scheduled in early and mid-February.  That ends the information Collection segment of the process.  The Policy and Text Development segment runs from February 23 until June 8th.

The third and final segment of the overall review of the Comprehensive Plan involves the city council and its review process.  That would start on June 7th with a workshop.  The City Council would conceptually act on the Comprehensive Plan on July 5th.  David Silk, Chair, suggested that some of these meetings and forums be held on the waterfront itself to maximize accessibility for the public.

Dan Prichard, of the State’s Department of Conservation, Submerged Lands Program, attended the meeting.  In a letter dated November 24, hand delivered to Planner Bill Needelman, Prichard wrote (in part):  ”The Bureau’s ’submerged Lands Rules currently do not allow for upland uses or fill on submerged lands unless they are for ’an essential but subsidiaryh part of a commercial fishing use, water-dependent use, shoreland stabilitation, cable, or pipeline and the applicant has demonstrated that there is no other reasonable alternative site available.’ In regards to the current proposal before the planning board, we are most concerned about proposed changes that would allow new or expanded upland uses on those proposed changes  upland uses on those portions of the piers and wharfs in the Waterfront Central Zone located over submerged lands.”  Prichard told MHN:  “We have jurisdiction and authority over the submerged land here.”

Please see posts # 320 dated November 6th and post # 312 dated October 28th for more background information.

2009 Holiday Tree To Be Decorated November 27 - Monument Square

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 335)

The public is invited to attend the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 27th at 5:30 p.m. at Monument Square in downtown Portland.

The ceremony will feature entertainment for the w hole family including a performance from the Maine State Ballet, Portland Conservatory of Music, Rick Charette and the Bubblegum Band and a VERY SPECIAL GUEST!

Following the entertainment, the 50′ blue spruce adorned with over 2,000 environmentally friendly LED lights, will be lit by a child chosen in a radio contest by Q97.9.  The tree was donated by John Plante of St. John Street in Portland.

The event takes place rain or shine!