ROCKLAND – For the third consecutive year, the Design Committee of Rockland Main Street, Inc., conducted a Downtown Window Box and Sidewalk Garden contest. The contest is open to any business in downtown Rockland to encourage business owners and property managers to enhance the overall appearance of the downtown district.

The contest was orchestrated by Design Committee member Linda Richardson over a six week period, who then led a team of three volunteer judges on the 11^th of July for the final decisions. Volunteer judges were downtown stakeholders Kathy Thyng of Time Out Pub, Brenda Pendleton of Remax/Jaret & Cohn, and Joe Corrado of Joseph Corrado Photography.

The awards in this year’s Window Box/Container category went to:

1^st Place – 412 Boutique at 412 Main Street

2^nd Place – Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars at 503 Main Street

3^rd Place – Jonathan Frost Gallery at Park Drive entrance to 279 Main Street

Honorable Mention went to The Curator at 383 Main Street 

In the Garden category, the awards went to:

1^st Place - Café Miranda at 15 Oak Street

2^nd Place – Bayoga at 8 Lindsey Street

3^rd Place - Trade Winds Inn at 2 Park Drive

Honorable Mention went to Jewelry By George at 376 Main Street

The following businesses offered discounts for plants and materials were offered as a further incentive for downtown businesses to become engaged in the contest: Flowers By Hoboken, Plants Unlimited, Home Depot, Lowe’s.

Award certificates will be presented to all winners, and first place winners in both categories will receive a gift card toward their next purchase of plants and flowers.

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, Maine. The local 501[c][3] non-profit organization is fully accredited by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Main Street Center, an organization committed to historic preservation-based community revitalization, and the Maine Development Foundation's Downtown Center.