 "Juneteenth is a reminder that freedom and racial equality have always been a struggle. Let's continue to work together towards a more just and inclusive future."
- Unknown -
 I’m proud to say that we're in year three of celebrating Juneteenth at the City of Auburn, which begins Monday at a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall Plaza, followed by the holiday on Wednesday and a region-wide event the following Sunday at Les Gove Park (more details on that below).
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in America. After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, owners in many isolated areas kept word from the people they had enslaved so that they would not flee. On June 19, 1865, some of the last enslaved people in America were freed when the news, at last, reached Confederate Galveston, Texas.
In 2021, the US Congress passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day and making the day a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The Act was signed into law by President Biden on June 17, 2021.
June 19 is an important day, not only for our nation, but for our state and the City of Auburn. Join us Monday night to kick off a week's-worth of activity and celebration.
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Monday, June 17
6 p.m.
City Hall Plaza, 25 W. Main Street
Juneteenth celebration is coming to Les Gove Park
 The third-annual Juneteenth celebration at Les Gove Park will feature Senator John Lovick and a community concert from Ghanaian drum team Anokye Agofomma – in addition to many other performers and speakers – as the city celebrates and honors the history and significance of Juneteenth.
The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 23, at Les Gove Park, near the Auburn Community and Event Center. The Auburn Farmers Market will take place at the same time and place, just down the pathway at Les Gove on the park's southern end. This year, Juneteenth will feature over 100 food and craft vendors, including the Original Phillys, Spooky Dogs, Soul Fusion, Delfino’s Chicago Style Pizza, and more. Bring your blankets and chairs!
I hope you join us next Sunday!
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Sunday, June 23
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Les Gove Park, 910 9th Street SE
 A new mural honoring veterans is ready to be unveiled to the world Monday at the Auburn Airport. A portion of the mural is dedicated to Colonel Joe Jackson, a.k.a. the "Luckiest Guy in the World," a former Auburn resident and Medal of Honor recipient who flew privately out of the Auburn Airport.
On May 12, 1968, Colonel Jackson, commander of an unarmed C-123 transport aircraft, flew on an emergency mission to Kham Duc, South Vietnam, where enemy forces were overrunning a Special Forces camp. Upon learning that a three-man Combat Control Team had been left behind, he made an assault landing on the debris-littered airstrip under heavy fire and successfully evacuated the team despite a dud rocket landing near his plane.
After safely returning to Da Nang without a single bullet hitting the aircraft, Colonel Jackson was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the medal at the White House on January 16, 1969.
Join us at the Auburn Airport on Monday to celebrate Colonel Jackson and Auburn-area veterans alongside Jackson's family and McChord Air Force Base Commander Colonel David Morales!
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Monday, June 17
Noon
Auburn Municipal Airport, 2143 E Street NE
 How many of you recognize this building? Do you know what it is today?
Did you know that Auburn turned 133 years young on Thursday? Yes! The town of Slaughter was incorporated on June 13,1891, but (thankfully) the name was changed two years later on February 21,1893, to Auburn, by an act of the state legislature.
While we didn’t celebrate with big fanfare this year, I am always thankful for a city as beautiful and as friendly as ours. I doubt that the founders of our city could ever have envisioned the challenges and opportunities that we have encountered, and I’m not sure that any of us could have, either.
If you ever have an hour or two or more to spend at the White River Valley Museum, I encourage you to go and check out our history. Much of it is beautiful, and quite frankly, there are some things that we should strive to never repeat.
Each of our new City of Auburn team members is given a tour of the museum to understand the city that we serve just a little bit better. It’s a wonderful history lesson!
Despite modest beginnings, Auburn's Blue Resilience Team clinched the trophy in their fourth season playing in an Auburn league!
The team formed recently to support community engagement and support officers' mental health. The positive experiences led to the creation of two additional teams, bringing the total to three. These teams include officers, City of Auburn employees, spouses, and retirees.
 Connecting through one of America's fastest-growing sports has greatly benefited wellness and community relations at the Auburn Police Department. Our officers have built strong connections with many Auburn residents, some of whom have even joined them on ride-alongs!
Congratulations, Auburn Blue Resilience!
Photo courtesy of Auburn School District
The Auburn Riverside High School softball team deserves a hardy round of applause for becoming state champions in late May -- and get this -- for the first time in school history!
To celebrate the win, the team held a parade on campus Wednesday, a much-deserved commemoration for a fantastic job well done! Kudos to all of the players and Head Coach Bryce Strand and assistant coach Matt Muxen.
 Thank you Downtown Auburn Cooperative for organizing a Mix and Mingle and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday evening for Auburn's “newest” downtown salon, Studio IV Day Spa and Salon at 205 E. Main Street, Suite B! This new salon offers everything from hair care to massages, pedicures, manicures, waxing, and more! You’ll remember Studio IV used to be located just a bit west on Main St – the site of the Max House fire a few years ago. Welcome back home, Studio IV Spa and Salon!
This issue is one my favorites because it tells the important story of two City of Auburn services tailored to helping people who are homeless.
This issue highlights two key services: the Senior Activity Center’s Resource Navigation Program and a new clean and sober housing partnership funded by opioid settlement funds. This issue also features stories on the SISTAHS art installation, the R Street SE preservation project, and various upcoming events like Juneteenth and the 4th of July Festival.
Enjoy the magazine when it hits your mailbox around June 19th!
 Thank you Puget Sound Energy for inviting us to your kick-off event of the small business energy assessment blitz! Throughout this week, this small but dedicated group of PSE workers were out and about in the Auburn area, talking to business owners and doing free energy assessments, looking at ways owners can save money.
What did this assessment provide?
- A no-cost comprehensive assessment and energy savings report.
- Proposal including additional energy-efficiency upgrade opportunities, if eligible.
- Installation of no-cost LED lighting and other low-cost energy-saving products.
- Reduced energy use and savings on your bill.
For small business owners looking to learn more, visit the PSE website and be on the look out for the next round!
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