The First is proud to announce the winners of its seventh annual Customer Photo Calendar Contest. Fourteen color photographs have been chosen from over 200 entries, and each winning photographer will be awarded a $100 cash prize. The images will appear in the bank’s 2015 desk calendar and wall calendar, which will be available to customers in all offices of The First by mid-November.

The winning entrants are: Cover – Vanessa Bemis of Rockport; January – Kevin Shields of Rockport; February – Meredith Garber of Bar Harbor; March – Paul Brown of Rockland; April – Melissa Savage of West Rockport; May – Caroline Albertson of Rockport; June – Donald R. Dunbar Jr. of Perry; July - Duane Lowe of Newcastle; August – Bruce Burnham of Boothbay; September – Tina Limeburner of Sargentville; October – Stacy Welner of Harpswell; November – Eric Strasenburgh of Blue Hill; December – Michael Kane of Damariscotta; wall calendar image – Loree Niola of Damariscotta.

The First began asking its customers in March to submit their very best original, scenic Maine shots. Entries included images depicting The First’s expansive coastal and interior footprint and were submitted by customers from across the country. All customers of The First — professionals and amateurs, employees and their family members — were encouraged to enter the contest. To continue The First’s tradition of being a local bank committed to its communities, the custom calendars are being designed by Elm Street Marketing Essentials of Camden. All the winning entries can be viewed on The First’s facebook page.

This year, for the first time, the public was invited to vote on Facebook for their favorite photo to be used as the calendar cover photo.

“We were excited about engaging the public in choosing our cover photo this year,” said Amy Rollins, Marketing Director of The First. “Producing a custom photo desk calendar that highlights our customers’ talents and the natural beauty of our state is such a win-win situation. We look forward to sharing the calendars this fall.”