 “Don’t take your dreams to the grave.”
– Fia Taito –
 On Wednesday I had the pleasure of talking with two amazing, cool women who want to strengthen the mind and spirit of Auburn's youth -- and they're going to do it in the best way possible!
Merry-Christmas Seuseu and Fia Taito of Arts of Love & Lend A Hand Community are hosting a Youth Expo and Music Convention in a two-part series in the month of November. The purpose of this event is to focus on the youth members of today and all the ways they can be engaged and enriched.
Merry-Christmas and Fia are gathering resources to educate our youth members about what is available to them in the diverse communities that we serve. It is vital to support and train the young minds of today so they may feel more confident and be more prepared for the chaotic world that they are diving into.
Their mission is to create a safe space for young minds to collaborate and share their experiences in the communities that they serve, and to engage with community leaders from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds and career paths that will show them the various options they have to pursue in the world that they live in today!
We'll have so much more to share about these events in the coming months as November approaches. I can't wait to see what these women come up with!
 Public Health Seattle & King County (PHSKC) has chosen Auburn to assist the region to reduce the inequities experienced in South King County during high heat events. They asked us to help them assemble willing community members in Auburn to join a year-long work group focused on heat and health. The Climate and Health Adaptation Mapping Project (CHAMP) has now convened a dedicated work group of “CHAMPions.”
They had their second meeting last weekend and I was able to stop by to thank Auburn's CHAMPions for stepping up to help with this very important work as extreme heat events become more frequent and intense due to climate change, King County is experiencing increased exposure to unhealthy heat levels.
Auburn's CHAMPions are working together alongside public health practitioners, scientists, and policymakers, to visually represent the causes and effects of heat on health in Auburn.
One of the key outcomes will be a large visual diagram to represent how heat affects health in Auburn and help to identify potential solutions.
I am immensely grateful that Auburn has so many big hearted people that want to make the future better for all of us!
 If you look really closely you can see me in the lower left behind Pinoe :-)
You may not know this about me, but I am an avid Women’s soccer fan! It all started because our daughter Lucky played soccer for 15 years (think proud mama), and we have season tickets to Seattle Reign FC and I was honored last year as a Legend.
This past weekend, Reign retired Megan Rapinoe’s jersey in an on field ceremony before their game against North Carolina Courage (we won 1-0).
They invited all Legends to create a walkway for Pinoe to walk through to get to the stage. I felt a bit giddy and very humbled standing with Mary Ellen Stone, retired Executive Director of KCSARC, Deborah Juarez, former Seattle City Council member; Kali Clark, Mayor of Sammamish; and so many more who give so much to this region.
Megan Rapinoe didn’t disappoint- she is larger than life and over 16,000 fans were there to celebrate her and her accomplishments!
Go Reign and thank you Pinoe!
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 I know, I can't believe it either! It's officially the end of summer as we know it. The leaves are turning red, the mornings are cold, the days are getting short, and the kids are returning to school. And as the 2024-2025 school year approaches in Auburn and surrounding districts, we'd like to remind you the importance of stopping for school buses.
So when do you stop? On a two lane road, both directions stop. If there's a turning lane between the travel lanes, vehicles must stop if going the same direction as the bus -- that means the turning lane too! If there are three or more lanes on the road, stop if traveling in the same direction as the bus. And if the road has a median, stop if traveling in the same direction as the bus.
If you don't stop, you could face a $428 fine. If an officer isn't present, the school bus driver can write down your license plate, and the vehicle owner will receive a ticket.
Please be safe this school year -- our kids are counting on you!
 As we head into September and gear up for Fall, Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation has a host of offerings, opportunities and experiences. Check out the digital version of the Fall 2024 Recreation Guide or visit auburnwa.gov/play for updates, registration information and a full listing of classes and programs.
We encourage you to follow our Parks pages on social media or subscribe to our electronic newsletters to see what we are up to:
Facebook: Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation
Instagram: @auburnparks_rec
Auburn@Play Electronic Newsletter: Subscribe Now
 International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held the 31st day of August each year, and it aims to raise awareness of overdose and remember loved ones lost.
The opioid overdose crisis continues to affect communities across Washington State, with fentanyl driving 70% of all overdose deaths. In 2023, the state saw 1,339 fatal overdoses, with 670 recorded so far in 2024. In Auburn, law enforcement and first responders are equipped with Naloxone to save lives. Local agencies, including HealthPoint and A Walk to Freedom Counseling, are available to help those battling mental health and substance use disorders. This is not just a legal issue but a health and humanitarian crisis, and together, we can prevent further tragedies.
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We were honored to have three agencies at our Aug. 19 council meeting to accept proclamations who work closely with Kent Hay and our Human Services & Anti-Homelessness Divisions to combat this war on drugs. We are grateful for their dedication in serving the Auburn Community. Thank you Business Director Harry Franqui and Clinic Director Suzanne Laurel of HealthPoint, Kalena Towle, clinical supervisor of We Care Daily Clinics, Michael Preston, owner of A Walk to Freedom Counseling, and Mark Hampton, owner of AAHAA Supportive Housing, for your support!
 Beginning Tuesday Sept. 3 through Nov. 1, 2026, the road and sidewalk of 1st St. NW between A St. NW and B St. NW, and B St. NW between north of West Main St. and 1st St. NW will be closed due to Sound Transit parking lot construction.
This new parking garage will be built on the old Mel's Lumber lot, located at 1st Street NW and A Street NW.
This new garage will add 550 parking stalls to downtown Auburn for commuters on Sound Transit's Sounder train and is part of a promise made to voters in 2008 when they approved the ST2 ballot measure to address growing ridership.
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