First "Field of Dreams" comes alive courtesy of Granite City Electric

More than 300 Holliston residents, baseball fans and media attended the official lighting ceremony of the first Field of Dreams in the town of Holliston, MA on the perfect summer evening of Wednesday, July 13.

Holliston was the first winner of the "Field of Dreams" contest sponsored by Granite City Electric, Official Distributor of Electrical Supplies to the
Boston Red Sox. The approximate cost of the lighting and installation was valued at over $100,000. The 83 lights and light posts included a Hubbell Lighting System, GE Lamps, and Square D Switchgear.

Twenty-seven cities and towns from throughout New England submitted an essay telling why their youth playing field should receive a complete Hubbell Sports Lighting package and complimentary installation provided by Glynn Electric of Plymouth (MA).

"Just exhilarating," asserted Jack Connors, Holliston youth baseball official, as he emerged to the cheering crowd of parents and children from the tiny, wooden shed where he flipped the switch.

Holliston’s submission was a re-creation of the famous poem "Casey At The
Bat", quite fitting for the town which claims to be the original Mudville.
Randy Horn, Holliston youth baseball official, who played a major role in the organization of their campaign, said it was "A huge team effort of everyone in town, and that was the exciting part of it. Everyone worked hard to get out the vote."

In the last 24 hours of the contest, the town overcame a 7,000 vote deficit to edge out Leominster as the winner, according to Connors. A last-minute barrage of e-mails to friends and family did the trick. Holliston received more than 14,000 votes (votes for limited to one vote per computer user and monitored by a special Internet program).

Holliston residents claim a special connection to the famous "Casey At The Bat" poem. Casey, the poem’s tragic hero, played for a team from Mudville, which is also a section of Holliston.

"What could be more appropriate than for Mudville to win it" noted Granite City Electric CEO Phyliss Goodwin. "You all worked so hard to make it happen."

The "lighting" event included a Home Run Derby, Radar Gun tracked pitching contest and presentations from local officials. The ceremony was followed by youth league baseball and softball games under the new lights.

The newly lit field is located at the Adams Middle School, 323 Woodland Street, Holliston, Mass.

Granite City Electric and their partners Sullivan McLaughlin Companies and Reflex Lighting Group also announced "Field of Dreams II" and encourage other cities and towns to step into the limelight by applying for the next sports lighting system complete with installation to a local junior baseball or softball field.

Submission period is runs through August 15, 2005.

To submit your town's junior baseball field or softball field - send a digital picture of your field, along with a one page essay stating why your
town should win.

Email submissions to Hillary Wright at hillaryw@granitecityelectric.com.

Once all entries are submitted, there will be a voting process open to the
public. The voting process will begin on August 16, 2005. Votes can be cast
via Granite City Electric's website.

RULES:
*Contest is open to junior baseball and softball fields that are located in
New England and are used for children 12 years of age and under.
*Town submission must be made to us by a town official, a member of
your junior baseball or softball league Board of Directors, or a
representative of your Town's Park Department.
*Prize has no cash value and is non-transferable
*Winner will receive lighting for a standard junior baseball diamond. (45' base paths, 220' and under outfield fence)
*Previous winners are not legible to participate.
*Granite City Electric reserves the right to change, alter or modify the
rules at any time without notice.
*A detailed rules package to follow after town's submission Granite City

ABOUT GRANITE CITY ELECTRIC
Granite City Electric was founded in 1923 in the Granite City of Quincy,
Massachusetts. For 81 years we have served electrical contractors and home
owners, with the finest electrical products backed by knowledgeable
professionals with many years of experience in electrical and lighting
products, design, and contracting. From the company’s roots in Eastern Massachusetts, Granite City Electric has expanded into three other New England states, serving thousands of electrical contractors and the general public from 19 convenient locations
and distribution centers.

Design lighting showrooms are located in Massachusetts - including
Bellingham, New Bedford, Plymouth, Quincy and South Yarmouth.

Distribution centers serving electrical contractors are located in four New England states, including Massachusetts (Andover, Boston, Falmouth, Leominster, Lowell, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Pittsfield, Worcester), New Hampshire (Keene, Nashua), Rhode Island (Warwick), and Vermont (Bennington, Brattleboro).

For more information about Granite City Electric, visit www.granitecityelectric.com, or contact corporate headquarters at 19 Quincy Avenue, Quincy, MA, 800.850.9400.

CONTACT:
To arrange for photos or interviews, please contact Steve Dubin, PR Works,
(Email) SDubin@PRWorkZone.com, (781) 582-1061

Lighting ceremony is illuminating in Holliston, Mass. First "Field of Dreams" comes alive.