By Ginger Kozlowski
Staff Writer

Norm Bouley of the Auburn Lions Club is happy to see this granite sign ready to greet everyone coming into Auburn from Exit 2 after working for two years on the project for approval and making the sign. (Ginger Kozlowski Photo)

It took about a year of negotiating with the state to allow the placement of a welcome sign on property near Exit 2 of Route 101 coming into Auburn, and another year to bring the project to completion, but motorists will now have a warm welcome into town.

"It's a beautiful town," said Norm Bouley of the Auburn Lions Club, "and I wanted to make our entrance aesthetically pleasing."

Bouley thanked many who made the sign by Swenson Granite possible. They include Espana Development for a backhoe, materials and labor; Frank Minakin for a backhoe; Nation's Rent of Candia for a forklift and Bobcat; Doble's Chevrolet for a truck to transport the heavy sign; Jessica Eaton for labor; Mark Laflamme of Affordable Mobility for electrical work; Maple Tree Construction for a dump truck; Candia Lumber for discounts on electrical materials; Ken Knowlton of the state Bureau of Traffic; road agent Emerson Heald and Jennifer O.Leary for bringing the sign out; Rynearson Company for installing the sign; and Jim Trombley Plumbing and Heating, Viking Oil and Gilbert Welding for cash donations.

Clemenza's Italian Deli brought the workers lunch, and the Auburn Hot Flashers Chapter of the Red Hat Society will plant and maintain flowers around the sign, said Bouley.

Bouley and the Lions aren.t stopping with the sign, though. Cleanup of brush and dead trees around Auburn Village School is next on the list of things to do, as well as work on a sidewalk through the village, a parade on Sept. 10 and another Hometown Get-Together June 23 at Myles Travel Plaza.