Recognition

The opening of Maine Public Broadcasting’s Maine Arts! Series received an Emmy at the 36th annual New England Emmy Awards June 1. The black and white silent film opening, created and written by Executive Producer Suzanne Nance, was recognized specifically for the editing by Tonee Harbert. Harbert also directed and filmed the opening. The opening features Nance, John McVeigh, Dustin Tucker, Dave Register, Ian Carlsen and Joe Bearor. Maine composer Aaron Robinson provided the original score, and artist Colin Sullivan-Stevens created the original art and signage. The production team included MPBN’s Nick Woodward and Lynnsay Maynard, and photographer Shoshannah White.

Maine Public Broadcasting’s A.J. Higgins was named among the four best political reporters in Maine, according to the Best State-Based Political Reporters of 2013 list compiled by The Washington Post’s political blog, The Fix. Higgins is MPBN’s Chief Political Correspondent and State House Bureau Chief. The list was generated from reader nominations via Twitter, Facebook, and comments on The Washington Post’s blog. Higgins was honored on the blog’s previous edition of the list in 2009. Higgins has been at MPBN since August 2007, after working as a staff writer for Blethen Maine Newspapers, where his reporting for the Kennebec Journal in Augusta also appeared in the Waterville Morning Sentinel, the Portland Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram. Prior to joining the Kennebec Journal, Higgins served for 13 years as a Bangor Daily News Political Editor and State House Bureau Chief.

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority is a leader among communities impacted by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, according to the June 2013 Association of Defense Communities “State of Base Redevelopment Report.” The Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment project leader Bryant Monroe cited MRRA for its economic development efforts and its leadership by example.

Parkview Adventist Medical Center was recognized for its excellence in patient care in its emergency department by Avatar Solutions. Avatar, a leading provider of patient, employee, and physician surveys, presented Parkview with the Five Star Service Award and the Five Star Service Loyalty Endorsement Award. Each  award honors Parkview for having the highest score in the emergency department and acknowledges the hospital’s consistently high standards of patient care.

Eileen Skinner, president and CEO of Mercy Health System, presented the Auxiliary to Mercy’s Scanlon Award to Nancy-Ann Blodgett at the Auxiliary’s annual luncheon. The award is presented to an Auxiliary member best exemplifying volunteer spirit through outstanding contribution of time, energy, enthusiasm and support. Blodgett retired after a 40-year career in nursing at Mercy in 2002 and promptly joined the Auxiliary. From that time she has volunteered tirelessly with VNA Home Health & Hospice, working in the gift shop and supporting numerous Mercy fundraisers with hand-sewn items and homemade candies.

The Portland School Board and Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk held a special ceremony to recognize 24 Portland Public Schools teachers, education technicians and support staff who retired at the end of the school year. Among retiring staff reconized for a combined 651 years of service to the district were Christine Bearce, Wendy Bilodeau, Deanne Burr, Jane Cahill, Lillian Caiazzo, Lynn Cuenin, Mary Gulezian, Karen Koppen, Virginia Lofman, Pam Meader, Carolyn Nedza, Patricia Perkins, Patricia Reed, Patricia Ripley, Barry Roberts, Joseph Robinson, Meryl Ruth, Mary Ann Scaccia, Ann Stepp and Elizabeth Stover. The longest serving staff were Kristen Baker, 43 years; Steve Morgenstein, 39 years; and Kathy Mercier, 38 years.

New Hires, Promotions and Appointments

Patricia L. Camelio, Butler H. Carmichael, Timothy Griffin, Ellen Norton, Michael Rayder Jr. and Robert Sansone were elected to the Cancer Community Center Board of Trustees on June 11. The Center is located in South Portland.

Ed Crockett joined Shipyard Brewing Company as president of Capt’n Eli’s Soda. Crockett has 25 years of consumer product sales and management experience in the food and beverage industry. Most recently, he directed sales for Oakhurst Dairy, and he was once a category manager for Hannaford Bros.

Drummond Woodsum welcomed Jeremy Fischer as the firm’s newest attorney, to focus on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and commercial litigation. Fischer regularly represents financial institutions in federal and state proceedings, including actions to recover business equipment, commercial foreclosures and receiverships.

Linda Wyman joined People’s United Bank as assistant vice president and mortgage account officer in the Portland market.

Sterling Kozlowski and Lawrence A. Wold were elected to the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges Board of Directors. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that the state’s seven community colleges have the resources needed to provide a high quality, affordable and accessible college education for Maine people.

Yarmouth residents Maura Halkiotis and Jill Sady were elected to the Royal River Conservation Trust Board of Directors. Halkiotis was also named treasurer. The  trust has protected 3,300 acres of  habitat, open space, and farmland in eight towns within the Royal River watershed. Halkiotis is a self-employed CPA in Yarmouth, was Yarmouth’s town finance director, and is treasurer for Coastal Studies for Girls in Freeport. Sady works for the Portland-based educational non-profit CIEE as the assistant to the president for strategic initiatives.

Partnerships

Mechanics Savings Bank has provided Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority a flexible line of credit to allow MRRA to leverage its own funds for loans to prospective and current tenants of Brunswick Landing and the Topsham Commerce Park. These entities can use this money to improve current facilities and support working capital needs. MRRA currently has 24 businesses at Brunswick Landing, with many more being sought out to grow and expand in the region.

Grants

Good Theater, the professional theater in residence at St. Lawrence Arts on Munjoy Hill in Portland, received a $4,000 grant from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation for support of the opening show of the 2013-2014 season, “Clybourne Park,” by Bruce Norris.