For Immediate Release
July 13, 2006

Millis Garden Club Acknowledges
Equity Office Properties For Their
Donation To The Community

Millis, MA…. The Millis Garden Club gratefully acknowledges Equity Office Properties of Wellesley for its generous donation to the Town of Millis. The community has embraced the company’s gift of 7 steel benches and 16 garden containers, a gift received this past May. This incredible contribution is a sizeable gift, as the Town of Millis would not have been able to afford such a purchase.

Equity’s contribution offered Millis something that the town didn’t have – attractive and durable park furniture and garden containers. With the Millis Garden Club in existence for only two years, the non-profit club has just begun to raise funds for their civic beautification projects. Now, with this gift, they are well on our way toward making Millis a more attractive and welcoming community in which to live and visit.

MGC plans are to refurbish five garden containers each summer and place them out in the community; the Millis DPW will refurbish and place the benches over time. Currently, there are three newly painted black garden containers in the front entrance to the Millis Public Library, planted with assorted perennials and annuals. Shortly, the DPW will install two garden benches adjacent to the containers, which will replace an old splintered wooden bench. This is a revitalization project that is happening only because of Equity’s generosity. MGC also planted two containers, which are placed on a traffic island along Exchange Street and Route 109; in the near future, MGC will plant and maintain a garden container at the Millis Transfer Station, another high traffic location.

“ It gives our members great pride to plant and maintain these garden containers for our community” says Nancy Sitta, President of MGC. Sitta also commented, “It will be rewarding to see members of the community – from seniors to families with toddlers -- taking a moment to rest on the new benches at the Millis Public Library and at other locations.”

MGC offers their sincere gratitude to Equity Office Properties for the donation, in particular, Mike O’Shaughnessy, Construction Manager and a Millis resident. This gift supports the civic efforts of the Millis Garden Club and the Town of Millis. Since the garden containers and benches benefit members from the entire Millis community, it is MGC’s intention that the community be made aware of Equity’s generosity and its contribution to the beautification of Millis.

The Millis Garden Club acknowledges Jim McKay, Assistant Director of Public Works and his staff, who retrieved the pieces.. MGC acknowledges Steve D’Innocenzo of American Stripping, Holliston, for sandblasting, priming and spray painting the first three containers. MGC, a non-profit organization, is seeking contributions from the community to refurbish additional containers.

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