ROCKPORT — Did you know that Rockport is blest not only with great paid employees, but a cadre of volunteers that fill all kinds of official town government committees. Then, there are a number of organizations and the folks who people those organizations doing much to make life in Rockport so special and to supplement taxpayer dollars so that many services can be enhanced.

The Rockport Garden Club is a shining example. Did you know that so many of those wonderful year-long, town beautification projects are provided by the club? Not only the initial and ongoing weekly labor, but also purchasing the materials that go into each projec. t Here is just a sampling: the bridge box plantings and post office plantings — both in the village and in West Rockport — Mary Lea Park, the Opera House planters, Weidman Square (that little center space in the middle of the converging streets near the Opera House), Memorial Park, Andre’s statue and other areas of the Harbor, the Arches, Aldermere Farms, the West Rockport Fire Station, and so much more including December holiday decorations.   

Stephanie Kumble keeps an eye on Rockport municipal news in her regular column here.

Tracking the money spent on numerous projects alone would be an impressive figure to show on town budget reports in the “Parks and Recreation budget lines. Then, if you were to add the total number of each club members volunteer hours, assign Maine’s minimum hourly wage to that number and compute the total, the figure would represent a sizable amount.

In addition to the specific town beautification work done, the club also acts as a watchdog/advisory group on other aspects of town beautification. Currently, the work on the Rockport Opera House Marquee is happening thanks to the club’s diligence and cooperation with the town highway department.
 
To cover the costs incurred for these projects, the club holds two major fundraisers to pay for projects, as well as providing healthy scholarships for both Camden Hills Regional High School graduating students and/or adults pursuing horticulture related education/careers. One of these fundraisers, the Annual Plant Sale is coming up, June 1 at Aldermere Farm from 9 a.m. to noon. The sale features an array of herbs, tomatoes, annuals and perennials, plus all kinds of garden accessories and the new Rockport Garden Club's cookbook.

At the library

Thanks to a generous grant from the Davis Foundation, the Rockport Library Committee and many others spent the past few years discovering the possibilities to answer the question:  “What should our small town library mean in the 21st Century?”  

The Friends & Library News Spring newsletter (available on line at www.rockport.lib.me.us or hardcopy at the library), features a highly informative front page Guest Column written by Kathleen Meil, current Library Committee chair. Meil breaks the news that  “The Library Committee voted to endorse the construction of a new library on the RES site.” Meil iterates that this is only a recommendation, from the library committee that serves as stewards of the library, and that any decision  can only come from town voters.

Meil also succinctly details the entire lengthy exploration process which has included a wide array of Rockport officials, community members and others involved in each phase of the study. She also invites folks to visit:  www.rockport.lib.me.us, click on “Who We Are,” then click on word “Planning” found in that narrative. Here you’ll find not only a detailed history of the study, but also a “way back history” of the current building, the additions and all the paths explored over the years to maximize the existing site.

The next step in the process will be a joint public workshop in June with the Select Board to establish a timeline for bringing a proposal to voters. In addition, a series of community meetings similar to last fall’s Select Board Listening Tour is anticipated.  Financing and fundraising options are currently being explored by the Library Committee.

Town Elections, Town Meeting

Election Day isn’t until Tuesday, June 11 (8 am. to 8 p.m.), at the Town Office (Town Meeting Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at the Opera House), but absentee ballots are currently available.