![State of the City Poster](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAAUBURN/2023/04/7424611/4675325/23-sotc-eventbrite-2160x1080_crop.png) This is your absolutely FINAL day to register for State of the City next week! This event is one of the best ways to hear directly from your mayor -- me -- about the state of, well, the place you live!
This year, I'll be talking about three core themes that are central to everything Auburn: Compassion, Accountability and Community.
Registration closes TONIGHT, so get your free tickets while you still can!
📅 Wednesday, April 19
🕐 6 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m.
📍 Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Convention Center
🎟️ Reserve tickets online
![Sikh Heritage Day](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAAUBURN/2023/04/7461894/4688413/2023-04-03-19-20-08_crop.jpg) Today is National Sikh Day, which marks the creation of the Khalsa and the Sikh articles of faith. Sikhism is a religion founded in the Punjab region of South Asia over 5 centuries ago and introduced to the United States in the 19th century. It's the fifth-largest world religion, with about 30 million Sikhs worldwide, including over 1 million in the United States.
Vaisakhi is one of the most religiously significant days in Sikh history. The City of Auburn is proud to celebrate this holiday alongside our Sikh American community, and we wish them very joyous Vaisakhi filled with celebration!
![City of Auburn employees planting a tree at Frank Fulmer Park](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAAUBURN/2023/04/7461921/4688415/2023-04-12-12-45-26-1_crop.jpg) To celebrate Arbor Day later this month, we did what we always do -- we planted a tree at a city park. But unlike years prior, our Parks Director Daryl Faber and I commemorated the occasion with another activity I hope becomes tradition. We slid down a bright yellow slide!
Not just any slide -- it's actually the first of its kind at any playground in the country because it’s a new concept. And if you climb inside and up it as I did, you'll see why!
![Mayor Backus and Daryl Faber going down a slide](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAAUBURN/2023/04/7461924/4688416/2023-04-12-12-25-00-4_crop.jpg) Visiting the beautiful Frank Fulmer Park was a wonderful Wednesday afternoon treat, especially because the clouds broke for a few hours to give us some much-appreciated sunshine. Thank you to City Councilmembers Yolanda Trout-Manuel, Bob Baggett and Cheryl Rakes, and members of the Auburn Garden Club, Statewide Washington Community Forestry Council, Department of Natural Resources, and the Auburn Urban Tree Board, for joining us!
The young Red Oak Tree is going to feel right at home next to the new playground! I’m also excited that this year the tree had an easy name to pronounce (not always the case)!
![Election 101](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAAUBURN/2023/04/7461937/4688417/coa-election-101-1920x1080_crop.png) I hope you're able to join some of our city staff later this month for our first-ever elections how-to class! This two-hour course, taught by city employees who are experts in this area, is designed to teach people interested in running for office how to best navigate the process.
The class is free, of course, and will also cover best practices, how and when to file, where to go, what agencies to be aware of, and it will overview election laws.
Space is limited, so be sure to register below! Because the class is specifically designed around Auburn elections, it's open only to Auburn residents.
📅 Thursday, April 27
🕐 6 - 8 p.m.
📍 Council Chambers at City Hall
🎟️ Reserve tickets online
![Clean Sweep](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAAUBURN/2023/04/7461984/4688418/4_crop.jpg) Registration is still open for Clean Sweep!
📅 Saturday, April 22
🕐7:30 a.m. - Project completion
📍 City Hall Plaza, then around the city
🎟️ Register for free online!
The morning agenda for Saturday, April 22 is as follows:
7:30 – 8:30 AM ……Check in – Auburn Community & Events Center 7:30 – 8:30 AM ……Welcome Breakfast – Auburn Community & Events Center 8:45 – 9:00 AM. ......Check in at project location – emailed in advance 9:00 – 12:00 PM ......Volunteers commence project tasks
Registrations accepted through Wednesday April 19. Registrations closed April 20 - 21, 2023.
Contact Information Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation 253-931-3043 Email Us
![Auburn's Junior City Council](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAAUBURN/2023/04/7461996/4688419/2023-04-13-19-07-18-2_crop.jpg) It was photo day for our Junior City Council on Thursday. Need I say more?
|