By Carol McCracken (Post # 1,072)

City Manager Mark Rees has picked Acting Police Chief Michael Sauschuck to be the nineteenth police chief for the City of Portland. Rees will formally present Saujschuck for City Council confirmation at the February 6, 2012 meeting. Upon confirmation, Sauschuck will become the nineteenth Police Chief to serve the city.

“I am very excited to make this announcement,” stated City Manager Rees. “After a rigorous and competitive search, I am confident that we have the right person for the position. Mike’s commitment to public service, the police department and the community is unparalleled. He knows and loves this city and the community will be well served by the Police Department being under his leadership.”

Saushuck has been with the Portland Police Department for fifteen years. After graduating from high school, Sauschuck joined the Marines where he was sent to Camp Peldleton, San Mateo, California. During his five year tenure, he served as a Corporal then Sargeant within the Marine Security Guard in Sal Salvador, El Salvador and Moscow, Russia. After four years as a areserve police officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, Sauschuck joined the Portland Police Department where he worked in a variety of specialities, including the crisis intervention team, special reaction team and as a field training officer. In March 2011, Sauschuck was selected as the department’s A ssistant chief, where he served as Chief James Craig’s second in command and directly oversaw criminal investigations, uniformed operations and emergency communications.

Upon Chief Craig’s departure in August, Sauschuck led the Police Department as Acting Police Chief during which he oversaw a department of more than two hundred employees and an annual budget of $13.4 million.

“I congratulate both Chief Sauschuck and City Manager Rees on the outcome of this search,” stated Mayor Michael Brennan. “Portland will undoubtedly benefit from Mike’s leadership. He understands the city and has built trusting and open relationships not just with his fellow officers and City Hall but with the community as a whole.”

workinprogress…

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By Carol McCracken (Post # 1,071)

A consortium of business leaders, health care providers and a state politician joined Mayor Michael Brennan this morning in speaking out against proposed cuts in the DHHS budget that Governor Paul LePage is pressuring the state legislature to pass. The Mayor said it is one of the few press conferences he has called since his recent election because it is such an important subject for the 65,000 who stand to lose access to their health care. And that doesn’t include those who will lose their jobs in the health care field.

The Mayor said that the emergency room at Mercy Hospital, State Street, was the appropriate place for this press conference because it “will become the center of health care for those who lose access” to health care. Those who can’t afford health care will be forced to come to the emergency rooms in both of Portland hospitals. These cuts will cost Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, social service agencies and non-profits $20 million. The cost to city programs will be more than $2 million. Seventy percent of MaineCare funding goes to 25% of the population which includes the elderly, disabled, handicapped and children.

By threatening to close public schools early this year, if legislators don’t pass his budget, Mayor Brennan said it’s unfortunate that the Governor is “pitting the education of our children against the health care needs” of this vulnerable population. Brennan said that Superintendent of Schools Morse has assured him that Portland schools will not close under these circumstances. “The problem is not as severe as the Governor has said. There are ways to balance the budget. In the past, the state legislatore haas done that. It’s a manufactured crises created by the Governor.”

United Way of Greater Portland president Susan McCormick said there are better alternative than eliminating MaineCare eligibility for thousands of Maine people; the focus should be on reducing costs with high volume/high cost users. Approximately 55% of MaineCare costs come from 5% of its members – most with chronic health conditions. By focusing on managint their care, they can achieve better health outcomes and reduce costs overall.”

State Representative Peter Stuckey (D), who serves on the Health & Human Services Committee said democrats are very opposed to the cuts. “They are happening in a vacuum. The cost shifts are a problem. Somebody else is going to have to take responsibility for the consequences of this budget cutting. The receipients of the cuts cannot take full responsibility for their medical care because of poor choices in their past or for whatever reason. What do you do?

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By Carol McCracken (Post # 1,070)

Late yesterday morning an ice sculpture kicking off the inaugural Portland on Ice Festival was installed in front of the Portland Museum of Art. Just twenty minutes later, a boy of about ten years old and his family were walking in the area. They came up to the three piece sculpture to get a closer look; before his father could stop him, the boy pushed one of the pieces, knocking it over onto the brick sidewalk.

Mike McKenzie, head of security for the Museum, said the father and son came into the Museum and took responsibility for the accident with the son apologizing. But much more damaging to the overall ice sculpture was the warm temperature. Just before closing time, a PMA employee went out front to check on several things. Boom. He heard the middle section hit the sidewalk. He turned and saw the sculpture lying on the sidewalk in many pieces; about five hours after it had been installed. The sculpture probably would have survived the boy’s enthusiasm, but not survive the 40 degree temperatures in Portland yesterday.

Chris Kelleher, on the security staff, said this afternoon said that no one was surprised that it didn’t last longer. “We were concerned about the warm weather for starters. And we were concerned about vandalism from some in the area at night.” Jeff Day, the sculpturer, said he would come over on Monday to pick up the pieces, but it’s hardly worth the trip Kelleher said. Day is from New Hampshire.

Please see the previous post, # 1,069, for more background information on the weeklong Festival hosted by the Portland Downtown District.

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Jeff Day, Ice Designs, Puts Finishing Touches on Ice Sculpture in Front of Portland Museum of Art. By Carol McCracken (Post # 1,069)

“This unveiling of two ice sculptures today is to remind people that there is plenty to do here in Portland in the wintertime, ” said Jan Beitzer, Executive Director, of the Portland Downtown District. “We hope it will grow and maybe we’ll be like Quebec someday.” Ms. Beitzer was referring to the popular Quebec Winter Carnival which began yesterday and runs until mid-February.

This morning Jeff Day, of Ice Designs – N.H. com., was putting the finishing touches on an ice sculpture located in front of the Portland Museum of Art, Congress Street. As he chizzled in some decorative edges, Daly said the freezer in which he works is 15 degrees. Today’s temperatures were in the 40s, but the blocks of ice were so cold to begin with he was confident they’d last through the Festival which runs until Saturday, February 4th. Earlier in the morning he, Ms. Beitzer and Will Ethridge, events & marketing manager for PDD, installed another sculpture at Post Office Park in the Old Port.

The split snowflake, the event logo, was designed specifically for this Festival and will be used at future festivals said Ms. Beitzer. PDD sent out three RFPs and Teresa LaGrange, a local graphic artist came up with the winning logo. “We wanted an edgy design and I think this has worked well for us.”

RiRa, on Commercial Street, and Bull Feney’s in the Old Port, commissioned Mr. Day to sculpt their logos in ice as well. Those will be installed on Monday in front of their respective businesses. PDD hopes that other businesses in the area will follow suit next year.

“The sculptures are a celebration of Portland’s music, art and community. Jeff Day has created marvelouos designs for both the Portland Harbor Hotel Ice Bar and Portland On Ice,” said Mr. Ethridge.

For more information on the Festival, please visit portlandmaine.com

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