AUGUSTA — A new gold leaf sign framed with granite posts was unveiled on Aug. 24 at a Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event.

Ross Cunningham, chamber director, welcomed a crowd of more than 100 people who gathered under the tent, according to a news release from the Arboretum. Classical music was provided by the Pineland Suzuki School at Snow Ponds Community Music Center.

Dean Corner, president of the Viles Arboretum Board of Directors, and Mark P. DesMeules, executive director, reminded all that the Viles Arboretum has been working on developing an educational, recreational and conservation-oriented destination for all of Maine and beyond.

On hand for the unveiling were Jean Bennett Driscoll and John Bennett from Oakhurst Dairy, and Dan Tilton and Fawn Wentworth of Skowhegan Savings Bank. Both businesses are supporters of the Arboretum and were influential in making the new sign a reality.

In addition to these supporters, Jeff Brown of Brown Signs in Augusta, who created the sign.

“This is another milestone for the Arboretum as it undertakes several major projects all designed to make the Arboretum a welcoming and well-rounded resource for visitors from Maine and beyond. The completion of this sign adds to a string of accomplishments in this vein including sculpture, interpretive panels for botanical collections, trail enhancements, a new wetland boardwalk, an outstanding newsletter, and much much more. You will not be disappointed with your visit to the Arboretum,” said DesMeules, according to the release.

The Arboretum, centrally located on 224 acres of fields, forests, wetlands and botanical collections, offers an ever-changing selection of programs for the general public and for schools. It focuses on interactive, creative and hands-on teaching with a focus on natural history.

For more information, visit www.vilesarboretum.org, stop by or call 626-7989.


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