Ken Blais of Rolly’s Diner in Auburn smooths gravel Thursday afternoon under a bench he just installed across the street from his business at the corner of Mill and Main streets in Auburn. Blais is a member of United New Auburn Association, which last year received a Neighborhood Challenge Grant from the city. A stipulation of the grant is that recipients must buy materials and donate their labor. Several benches, bike racks and trash cans have been installed in the New Auburn area. The association will be applying for another grant this year. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)