Beyond the South End

What Makes a Community?

Main Street, Rockland, Maine

 

 

 

What makes a community? If you look this word up in the dictionary (yes a real dictionary in book form), you’ll get the description: A group of people residing in the same region under the same government. A class or group with common interests. Society in general.

Do you think this simple explanation explains your community? I think it takes much more to make a community than simply living together in the same region

 

 

 

There is one non-profit organization in Rockland which strives to make their community so much more. It is called Rockland Main Street, Inc. and I for one am glad they exist and are working to make our downtown area a true community.

For doesn’t the center of activity in a community make it a community? Do you remember your youth in Rockland and how we centered our everyday lives on Main Street?

My mother would put Sister Sally in a carriage; I would hold onto the carriage; and up we’d go to Main Street. Here my mother, with a pocketbook full of real cash would come to pay the monthly bills. Here we went to the bank, insurance company, grocery store, to clothing stores and shoe stores.

And while we were up on Main Street we’d meet people we knew in the community we lived in. We’d stop to chat and catch up on each other’s lives. It gave us all a sense of belonging to each other; of caring about each other.

We lost that closeness as the years went by and the economy of Main Street changed to one catering to summer visitors.

Somewhere along the line Rockland re-invented itself once again as seen in the review I did of John Bird’s book Tidal Turn.

Also along the way Rockland Main Street, Inc. came to be. We are very lucky to have this group of dedicated citizens in our midst. Their aim is: “Enhancing and protecting the unique sense of place and economic vitality of our downtown.” In other words, making our community a better place.

How do they accomplish this worthy ideal?

First of all, they involve residents, businesses, and government in a cooperative effort and work toward common goals that continue to enhance our community.

They support projects that make the physical area look better like the recent resurfacing project for Main Street.

They help bring new businesses to Main Street, such as the renovation of the Hewitt Block at 444 Main Street, which now includes a restaurant called 3 Crow, and apartments on the top floors. The renovation included historic preservation, another goal of RMS Inc. made possible in some cases through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

They sponsor events to raise money for the organization like the “So You Think You Know Rockland” competition at the Strand which I have reported on this month.

Our business model has been studied by other communities. They try to figure out why our downtown is 100% involved in commerce of one kind or another. John-Manuel Andriote or the Norwich, Connecticut Bulletin came up to Rockland one day about the time of the Lobster Festival. He sat down on a bench at the Farnsworth and took notes on why Rockland’s system seemed to work for them. He wanted to know why the National Trust for Historic Preservation initiative worked here and didn’t work in his own home town. He suddenly found himself on the business end of an interview by a local citizen about what he thought of Rockland.

Andriote concluded his article which I found on the RMS site, (see the site on their Facebook page to view the whole story) this way: “Instead of living off the vanishing vapors of what used to be, how about we try something new and different: learning from and applying what others have already proved will work?”

Good advice? While we are bemoaning the past and the disappearance of our favorite stores on Main Street, perhaps we could become more involved in organizations like RMS Inc. It’s possible we as an individual in this group can really make some changes for the good. Who knows what the future holds for our historical Main Street.

Volunteer for one of our festivals. You will meet many of your neighbors there. Working with your community members to introduce our summer visitors to what is good about the midcoast area can give you a sense of pride in your community. Yes, even a sense of “community.”

According to a recent Bangor Daily News story by Stephen Betts, Mayor William Clayton, of Rockland, is asking for residents to contribute their talents to the community by filling one of the 48 vacancies on city boards. You can make a difference by joining the boards of: the planning board; board of assessment review; personnel board; zoning board of appeals; comprehensive plan commission; parks commission; library advisory committee; parking advisory committee; energy advisory committee; recreation advisory committee; breakwater lighthouse advisory committee; Coast Guard city advisory committee; and the Community Development Block Grant committee. Some of these committees have a majority of seats vacant.

If you want a better understanding of what these boards involve as far as what input you will be asked to give, please call city hall and ask to speak to the Mayor or to City Clerk, Stuart Sylvester.

How much do you care about your community? You should be proud of the city you live in. We now have a national and international reputation as a community who cares about its residents and that has a welcoming nature to visitors. Keep that reputation going. Get involved.

Thanks for listening.