ROCKLAND — A silent auction of nine uniquely decorated wreaths was featured Nov. 19 at St. Peter's "Unique Boutique" holiday shopping event at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Rockland. The event also featured fresh evergreen wreaths for sale, a wide variety of gift options, prepared foods and a light lunch menu. The church also offered gift wrapping free of charge.

It can be said that checking out the wares at a church holiday bazaar is a popular experience, especially judging from the crowds at St. Peter’s and First Universalist Church, both in Rockland, and at Owls Head Community Building that Saturday.

Kristin Cronkite, junior warden for St. Peter's, said, "This is our annual ‘Unique Boutique’ and is a fundraiser for the church. We've included outside crafters, as well as local businesses. Local businesses and artists have decorated wreaths that we will auction off."

Down the road, the inaugural Owls Head Craft Show was held at the Owls Head Community Building on Ash Point Drive. The show featured local crafters and artists.

Linda Synnefakis, treasure for Owls Head Garden Club, said the craft fair was sponsored by Tom Christie and his wife, Linda.

She said, "It will benefit the Owls Head Scholarship Fund. We provide scholarships to students in RSU13, the Owls Head and surrounding communities, as well as the Herring Gut Learning Center."

Homemade holiday gifts were there to be discovered at First Universalist Church of Rockland on Broadway. Sale items included handmade knitted and crocheted apparel (hats, mittens, cowls, etc.), holiday ornaments, sewn items, pet supplies, homemade baked goods, home-canned goods and more.

Pamela Bryer said they were trying to come up with ways to generate funds to operate the church.

"One of the things we noticed every Sunday is that in the pews are fleets of knitters" she said. "We also have an art club that meets here each week and we also have a stitching club that meets here each week. Everything here has been made by people in the congregation."