The Rockport Conservation Commission announced Oct. 23 that Keep Rockport Beautiful and its founder, Maggie Timmermann, were chosen by the Town of Rockport to be the 2017 Spirit of America award winner. The Knox County Commission will honor the recipients at their Commission Meeting on November 14.

Maggie Timmermann started Keep Rockport Beautiful in 2015 after being discouraged by the amount of trash piling up on the roadsides.

She gathered a handful of volunteers, assigned them roads, provided them with tools, and encouraged them to clean! The program has since grown into a biannual event with over 15 local businesses and organizations participating and over 100 local volunteers.

This year, they were assisted by inmate crews from the Warren Bolduc Correctional Facility. During the recent fall event, the participants cleaned 25 roads and 3 parks and collected more than 1,500 pounds of trash.

“The Town of Rockport and the Rockport Conservation Commission are fortunate to have Maggie Timmermann,” said the town, in its announcement. “Her sheer determination, hard work ethic, and dedication to the town and its beautification is invaluable. If you, your business and/or organization would like to participate in the next Rockport roadside cleanup event please contact Maggie Timmermann at crcmec@roadrunner.com. Keep Rockport Beautiful has scheduled the spring event for April 27 and 28, 2018.”