FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 21

, 2002

JENNIFER BOES, 302.672.6811

(Dover, Del.) The photography of 35 area residents will be on display as part of a traveling exhibit showcasing submissions to the third annual "Snapshots of Main Street" photo contest. The contest, administered by the Delaware Main Street Program, highlights architecture, scenery, and activities from Delaware's downtown districts. This year, contest planners received more than 100 entries.

Steven Boyd, State Coordinator of the Delaware Main Street Program, says, "A vibrant main street contributes significantly to the quality of life of a community. The photo contest and exhibition build awareness of our historic downtowns and help generate revitalization efforts at the grassroots level."

The 2002 photography exhibit will be unveiled at the "Snapshots of Main Street" awards reception Wednesday, June 5 at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts in Dover. Prizes valued at more than $1,500 will be awarded to contest winners. Following the event, the exhibit will be traveling to each of Delaware's eight Main Street towns through March 2003. The exhibit is being sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts.

The Grand Prize Winner of "Snapshots of Main Street" is Sandro Cuccia of Landenburg, Pa. for "Springtime on Main Street" which highlights the old and the new on Newark's main street. Cuccia will receive a two-night stay at the Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach. Paul Silverman of Dover took "Best in Show" with his snapshot of "Legislative Hall on the 4th," which depicts Legislative Hall through a textural American flag. A $200 gift certificate to Daniel Bennett Shutt Antiques in Middletown will be awarded to Silverman.

Ten other awards were given in the categories of Architecture; Every Day; Festivals and Events; Streetscape; and Budding Photographer for entrants 18 and under. Eleven photographers received honorable mention.

Contest winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges including: Dr. David Ames of the Center for Historic Architecture and Design at the University of Delaware; Robert Coffey, President of the Delaware Camera Club; Susan Salkin of the Delaware Division of the Arts, and Amy Greenwald-Foley of the University of Delaware. For a complete list of winners and an exhibition schedule, visit www.delawaremainstreet.com.

The Delaware Main Street Program, administered locally by the Delaware Tourism Office and affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, encourages revitalization through economic development of Delaware's unique historic downtowns. Participating towns include Brandywine Village, Delaware City, Dover, Middletown, Newark, Rehoboth Beach, Seaford and Smyrna.