 Monday is Memorial Day which means in Auburn, we have several important events where you can gather to honor our fallen heroes.
Memorial Day holds great significance in our collective Auburn-community hearts as we remember and pay tribute to those who met the dangers of the world head on, never to return home. It is our duty to remember: to remember the lives cut short, the dreams left unfulfilled, and the families forever changed by loss and grief. It is our duty to honor and to cherish. It is our duty to pledge support and embrace the values for which they fought – courage, compassion and unity. May we find inspiration in the selflessness and use it to create a better future for generations to come.
We'll have three Auburn Memorial Day events, first at Mountain View Cemetery, then at the Auburn Veterans Memorial and finally Les Gove Park (details on those below).
I hope you can join us for these meaningful traditions!
And as a reminder, all City of Auburn offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.
Mountain View Cemetery Memorial Day Event
📅 Monday, May 29
🕐 10 a.m.
📍 Flag Plaza at Mountain View Cemetery - 2020 Mountain View Drive
|
A Veterans Remembrance Ceremony organized by the American Legion Post 78.
📅 Monday, May 29
🕐 11 a.m.
📍 Auburn Veterans Memorial, 405 E St NE
|
|
 |
 |
|
The American-Vietnamese War Memorial Alliance is planning a brief event at the Vietnam Memorial in Les Gove Park.
📅 Monday, May 29
🕐 Noon - 12:30 p.m.
📍 Les Gove Park, 910 9th Street SE
|
 While I wasn't able to attend due to a sudden family emergency, Police Chief Mark Caillier and city staff had a productive and insightful meeting with several businesses along Auburn Way South and Howard Road Tuesday afternoon.
I'm proud of the businesses who came to the table to talk solutions and hear directly from city workers about the ongoing efforts to curb crime -- not only in that area, but across Auburn. We still have several hurdles to overcome, including being fully staffed and trained up at the police department, a process that has taken a few years due to the resignations we and police departments across the nation experienced over the COVID-19 pandemic.
I'm hopeful, though. Especially because the immediate steps we took when we last heard from businesses during an April City Council meeting are working.
Some highlights since May 1:
- We've made 47 arrests in the Howard Road area alone
- Officers have trespassed 43 people from local businesses in the area
- Officers have made an additional 200 contacts during those same emphasis patrols
The officers are putting in good work and they will continue to do so. It's important to remember, too, that these arrests and contacts are happening as an addition to their other assigned duties.
Staff were also able to extend some ideas on long-term solutions that will benefit the businesses in the area going forward.
 I hope you can come and enjoy the "lunch of the year" at Healthy Bite of Auburn next Friday!
Healthy Bite of Auburn is essentially one big potluck, only the "chefs" have to make enough to feed about 100 people! The recipes should be healthy by nature, but don't skimp on flavor!
This is one of my favorite events the City of Auburn's Blue Ribbon Committee puts on, and no, it's not because I won in 2018! If you remember the baja chicken I made, you'll know why.
Come to City Hall Plaza, relax, enjoy music, good company and of course, some delicious and healthy foods with easy-to-cook recipes you can make at home.
For more info or details on how to submit food as a chef, email pbailey@auburnwa.gov.
📅 Friday, June 2
🕐 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
📍 City Hall Plaza, 25 W. Main Street
 As he wrote in the blog last weekend, you only get to attend Petpalooza for the first time once. And his first time was quite the adventure.
He got sunburned, saw children petting and having emotional moments near chickens, developed large blisters on his feet due to sheer negligence, and got to take some pretty fun photos of the pet judging contest.
You can read all about his escapades on our City of Auburn blog.
 The Heart park in north Auburn is shaping up to me an amazing community gathering spot. I was lucky to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday and I was seriously impressed with what I saw.
The Heart is a result of a Development Agreement, a concept established in state law that allows a city and developer to negotiate for mutually beneficial development outcomes. This is actually the second phase of a three-phase development, which includes the construction of 500 multifamily units and a commercial retail/office center. Phase three is still a couple of years away.
The Heart will be an active space where people can play, meet up, and enjoy community events like festivals and markets. It includes a stage where performers can entertain and an area where food trucks can park serve our community.
And its location is particularly significant because it was once the site of the iconic Valley 6 Drive-In.
I want to thank Inland Development and their representatives, John Fisher and Scott Morris, for their hard work and dedication in bringing this project to fruition. Without their vision and commitment to our community, the Heart would not be possible.
 |
|
Vaisakhi is a significant cultural festival for the South Asian communities as it marks the start of the new harvest season; and it’s significantly important for the Sikh community as it marks the birth of the Khalsa. Considered one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar, parades and festivities are held by the Sikh communities around the world.
To celebrate this all-inclusive occasion, the Kent and Renton community invite you to participate on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at ShoWare Center in Kent from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrations include a traditional form of procession known as Nagar Kirtan, which can involve hymn singing, martial arts display, and distribution of food representing the concept of langar. This is a free event, so get there as early as you can to find parking spot.
If you're interested in joining these celebrations and spending time engaging with the community, please let Jagdeep Singh know and we look forward to seeing you on May 27!
📅 Saturday, May 27
🕐 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
📍 ShoWare Center, 625 W James St, Kent, WA 98032
✉️ Email Jagdeep Singh
|
 At Petpalooza I was asked to judge the pet contest, where we saw dogs doing tricks, speaking for the crowd, dressed in color costumes, and yes, kissing their owner.
|
