To the editor:

This letter is written to express our appreciation for the scores of volunteers and the many businesses and organizations that support Rockland's annual Festival of Lights Celebration, as well as the countless number of families who braved the cold temperatures and availed themselves of the fun and festivities, as well as those who will continue to visit the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree and Santa through the rest of the season.

Each year, Rockland Main Street, Inc., and its Festival of Lights Committee invests hundreds of man-hours planning and executing the events that take place in Rockland during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. To do so takes coordination, patience, funding, and a lot of hands-on labor.

The Rockland Festival of Lights Celebration includes the lighting and hanging of Christmas wreaths on Park and Main Streets; the arrival of Santa Claus on a U.S. Coast Guard vessel; the construction and the lighting of the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree; the Parade of Lights; the collection of non-perishable food that benefits the Salvation Army soup kitchen; the Pancake Breakfast with Santa; the horse-drawn wagon rides; the presence of Santa at his workshop in Mildred Merrill Park; and the annual Lobster Trap Raffle.

Rockland Main Street, Inc., is a 501[c][3] nonprofit organization that advocates for the downtown district on behalf of the entire city. With a focus on economic development, historic preservation and design, one of our missions is to create promotional events that bring people together to discover the values of a vital downtown.

National studies show that dense, mixed use development, usually downtown or adjacent to transit, produces a higher tax value per acre than residential and mall/big box development. Vibrant downtown districts attract investors, new residents, and a diverse business climate. Events like the Festival of Lights exposes the downtown district to the masses, many of whom return again and again throughout the year.

While every town and city experiences its own unique challenges, communities with a healthy downtown district thrive over time, benefitting both new and established residents, businesses and other stakeholders who have chosen Rockland as the place to live, to work, and to play.

We hope that the readers of this letter recognize the hard work and dedication of those who devote so much of their energy this time of year to enhance the value of Rockland's downtown district for the entire community.

There are so many wonderful volunteers who donate their time to the overall effort, some for an hour or two, and others who work on one or two specific components of the event.

And then there is that handful of volunteers who seemingly set everything aside to work nearly full time on the Festival of Lights from beginning to end. We would be remiss if we did not give a hearty thank you to Karyn Rizzo, Deena Carafelli, Tom Rizzo, and Elizabeth McKinney, all of whom were there from start to finish.

We further hope that we have brightened the Christmas holiday season for families throughout the Midcoast region. We have done our best to recognize those who have helped us in our efforts with hands-on labor, financial donations and in-kind contributions, and ask that you join us in demonstrating your appreciation to the management and staff who represent the following list of businesses and organizations, which appear here in no particular order:

Brooks Trap Mill; United States Coast Guard; Apprentice Shop; Bolduc Correctional Facility; All4U; Horch Roofing; Maine Lobster Festival; Camden National Bank; Hamilton Marine; The FIRST; Chowder House Restaurant; Rockland Café; The Free Press; Trade Winds Motor Inn; Lowe's; E.L. Spear; City of Rockland, including Rockland Public Works, Rockland Parks and Recreation; Rockland Police Department, Rockland Fire Department, City of Rockland senior staff, and members of Rockland City Council.

Also, Wallace Tent and Party Rental; Shed City; Reny's Department Store; Grasshopper Shop; Thorndike Creamery; Rock City Roasters and Rock City Café; Domino's; Pizza Hut; Trackside Station Restaurant; Dunkin Donuts; Time Out Pub; Midcoast Music Academy; BC Electric; and WABI-TV5.

Also, Courier Gazette; Village Soup; Clementine; Samoset Resort; Coastal Creative; Owls Head Transportation Museum; Midcoast School of Technology; St. George Carriage Company; Pen Bay Pilot; F.J. O'Hara Corporation; and Journey's End Marina.

Also, Pen Bay Health Care; Boston Financial; North Atlantic Blues Festival; Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce; Kinney Rentals; J. Edward Knight; Kiwanis Club of Rockland; Nancy Colson Seamstress; Don Robishaw; Doug Curtis; Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home; Rockland Savings Bank; and The Shops.

Also, Cape Air; Doug Erickson and Coldwell Banker/SoundVest Properties; Maritime Energy; Breakwater Vineyards; Five County Credit Union; Prock Marine; Farnsworth Art Museum; FMC; Penobscot Island Air; Eastern Tire; Midcoast Federal Credit Union; Pen Bay Glass; Rockland Ford; Coastal Communications; Mr. Tire; and Bar Harbor Bank and Trust.

We also want to recognize the Parade of Lights float participants, including the award winners: SOGNO Salon, [Best Spirit and People's Choice Awards]; Sterling Crown Pageants, [Best Business Award]; Cub Scout Pack 254, [Most Lights Award]; Patriot Builders, [Most Creative Award]; Toys For Tots; USCG Cutter Thunder Bay; Global Packing & Shipping; Village Soup TV; Owls Head Conservation Commission; Strand Theatre; Sweetgrass Winery; Dead River Oil Company; Project Puffin; Maine Lobster Festival; Sterling Ambulance; Midcoast Habitat for Humanity; Maritime Energy; Shepard Motors; Owls Head Fire Department; Rockland Fire Department; Rockland Police Department.

Award winners of the storefront decorations contest were Snowdrop Confections, 1st place; 412/Nuthatch, 2nd place; and RHEAL Day Spa, 3rd Place.

Rockland Main Street, Inc., is a focused partnership of residents, businesses and local government that enhances and protects the unique sense of place and economic vitality of downtown Rockland. In spite of the name and its focus on the downtown district, the organization is inclusive in its outreach and welcomes participation from the entire community.

On behalf of the Festival of Lights committee, the board of directors and all downtown stakeholders, thank you for your enthusiastic participation.

With best wishes for the Christmas and Chanukah season, and a fruitful New Year,

Gordon Page, Sr.

Executive Director