 “Being gay isn’t something you choose, but you do face choices about whether and how to discuss it.”
- Pete Buttigieg -
 The season is officially here and you know what that means -- your Sundays (and mine)just got a whole lot better! The Auburn Farmer's Market officially opens this Sunday, June 2nd, at 10 a.m. at Les Gove Park, and that means access to farm-fresh produce, flowers, crafts, knife sharpening, Auburn-area food trucks, family fun, and more! I know I’ll be there, and I hope to see you there, too!
 The Auburn Farmers Market provides a convenient venue for local farmers and artisans to provide access to healthy, fresh, locally sourced food and products to area residents. The Market serves as a vibrant gathering place where visitors can learn about healthy food choices, and overall health and well-being.
You can learn more about the market and schedule by visiting the link below.
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Sunday, June 2
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Les Gove Park, 1140 Auburn Way South
 Pride Month in Auburn is a time to celebrate love, acceptance, diversity and unity that binds us all together. We work every day to embrace diversity and celebrate every individual's uniqueness, upholding equality, inclusivity, and respect. Everyone deserves to live free from discrimination and prejudice.
Our city has taken steps to support the LGBTQ+ community through initiatives like Inclusive Auburn. We advocate for comprehensive nondiscrimination laws and equal access to healthcare, education, employment, and housing. Promoting dialogue and understanding is crucial to growing together.
I hope you can join us this Monday outside of City Hall for our annual Pride Month flag raising ceremony!
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Monday, June 3
6 p.m.
City of Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main Street
On Wednesday I learned of a Lakeland Hills Elementary 5th grader named Quinn Kortman who's made quite the impact in our community! Quinn is so good at safety patrol and ensuring her classmates remain unharmed while traveling to and from school, that she was recently inducted into the 2024 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame!
“Quinn is a very fast and diligent learner who is always alert and cautious while serving on patrol,” said School Safety Patrol Advisor, Christine Lee, in a news release sent to my office. “Quinn is not afraid to speak up to a student or parent to make sure they are crossing safely with us and following the rules. She is able to correct unsafe behavior if needed, while still being respectful to parents and students. These are really important leadership qualities in such a young person.”
Also from the news release: a panel of judges from AAA Washington, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Evergreen Safety Council, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission chooses ten top patrollers for induction into the AAA Washington School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame. Nominations require input from both the patroller and their advisor, including responses to a series of essay questions. This year, the panel reviewed 30 nominations submitted by elementary schools across the state.
Congratulations Quinn! You make me proud to be your neighbor and mayor!
 Council members Kate Baldwin, Cheryl Rakes, Hanan Amer, Tracy Taylor and I had a wonderful time at Junior Achievement Washington's Cheers to Careers Festival Thursday evening at the JA Education Center in Auburn. We were joined by several City of Auburn staff members and community partners such as the Auburn School District, Auburn Area Connect,Valley Regional Fire Authority, the Auburn Police Department, and the Auburn Food Bank.
The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was electric with live music filling the air, creating a perfect back drop to celebrate JA donors. There were a wide variety of items to bid on, cornhole to play, BizTown to explore, and people to connect with!
 Thank you the JA team for organizing such a wonderful event and for extending the invites to the City of Auburn!
 You may have seen the signs posted or communication flowing online about a planned project along Highway 167 this summer. That includes closures that may affect the travel plans of many of you.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is holding an upcoming SR 167 project open house at the Fife Community Center next week, a great opportunity for residents to meet the project team, ask questions, and learn about the project's benefits and construction schedule.
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Tuesday, June 4
5 - 7 p.m.
Fife Community Center, 2111 54th Avenue East, Fife, WA
Register
 Thank you Auburn for coming out to support our area veterans and service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and liberty. Our city held three separate events throughout the day and I was honored and privileged to be at all three.
(Click photo to view video)
You can view the full video of the Memorial Day Ceremony at Mountain View Cemetery by clicking the photo above. To view a video of the Vietnam War Memorial Ceremony at Les Gove Park, click the photo below.
(Click photo to view video)
Thank you for dedicating your Monday to these fallen heroes and their families. May we share their stories and memories and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.
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