 "Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened."
-- Dr. Seuss --
 It's been a mix of emotions across the City of Auburn this week as the landmark Auburn Avenue Theater was demolished after sitting empty and condemned for over two years.
On Wednesday afternoon, the front facade was taken apart and fell to the ground with a large thud heard hundreds of yards away. Quite a scene for motorists and folks walking by -- a piece of downtown Auburn over 100 years old is here no more. To say it's been sad couple of days would be a massive understatement! Not going to lie, I shed a few tears as the pieces were falling.
 We'll have a lot more to share about the history of the Auburn Ave. Theater and what's next on the horizon in our winter edition of the Auburn Magazine, which will release in late December. For now, we can look forward to what's next -- on Monday evening, the City Council approved the purchase of the building that currently hosts the comic book store next door, and below is a draft rendering of what the proposed Auburn Plaza Park may look like. We'll be discussing this project more in-depth at Monday's City Council study session -- you can watch along on YouTube or Zoom.
A DRAFT rendering of a proposed Auburn Plaza Park
I want to thank KING5 for coming down to do a story on the theater and highlighting all of the changes happening downtown -- including Rail Hop'n Brewing moving locations to be closer to the new proposed plaza.
 I also want to thank Rivers Edge Environmental Services for managing the demolition so thoughtfully and carefully. And to our City of Auburn engineers and Public Works team members who have been planning and executing this project every step of the way.
(Click the photo to watch the video)
And of course, to our Communications/Multimedia team for snapping all of these photos and making sure this moment isn't lost to time! They also documented the facade falling via drone and on the ground -- the video is worth the watch.
 After three weeks and seven separate meetings at schools across the City of Auburn, on Thursday we concluded our Safe Auburn: Community Conversation series with a seventh meeting at Chinook Elementary School in southeast Auburn!
 I want to thank all of you who took time out of your day to meet and discuss all of the public safety issues you're seeing in our community. You came to the meetings ready to talk problems, but you also came ready to talk solutions. Our team and I have left each meeting with new ideas to digest, and a whole lot of needs and wants to address!
 We've heard many common themes over the course of the last three weeks, particularly when it comes to youth violence, gun violence, gang activity, and traffic safety, especially speeding in certain neighborhoods.
We've been compiling all of this feedback to process and address. All of that progress can be tracked in real-time at Speak Up Auburn, our outreach and engagement platform.
 Once we've had the time to compile all of our data, we'll start looking at the near future at another set of meetings, and this time, it will be us doing more talking than listening. We'll come to the table with ideas, solutions, and ways we can tackle public safety as a community and as a whole.
 I want to thank our entire Team Auburn staff who helped tackle this monumental task, especially our Office of Equity, Engagement and Outreach, our Auburn Police Department, and of course, the Auburn School District for co-sponsoring and allowing us the use of all your wonderful schools!
Be on the lookout for communication early next year. We'll talk soon!
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 Diwali (pronounced Dih-vah-ly) is celebrated by over a billion people worldwide and is a vibrant holiday symbolizing the victory of good over evil. This "Festival of Lights" holds great importance for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists alike.
In 2024, Diwali will be observed from October 31 to November 3, with each day bringing unique meaning and fostering connection among families and communities. It's a time for reflecting on values such as truth, peace, and compassion!
Diwali also encourages charitable giving and selfless service, offering an opportunity to spread light, wisdom, and support to those in need. I think we can all use that!
I encourage residents of Auburn to join in celebrating Diwali’s historical significance of tolerance, compassion, and the victory of good over evil which resonates with the American spirit.
(Click the photo to watch the video)
Folks online are eating up (pun intended) a video we recently produced about Athens Pizza and Pasta, an institution that's as quintessential Auburn as the Crow With Fries, Emerald Downs or the Outlet Collection!
The video was a collaboration between our Economic Development and Multimedia team, and it's actually one in a series of business spotlights we've produced over the last few months.
(Click the photo to watch the video)
Earlier this month our team released a video on Chaska Bar and Grill, an amazing new addition to the downtown core serving up loads of delicious Indian food. Their food is second to none!
(Click the photo to watch the video)
And in September, our team produced a video on The PUB located inside the Haggen in Lakeland Hills, a fun and relaxing eatery that reopened in May of this year after being closed due to COVID.
So much great content to watch, but be careful -- don't watch on an empty stomach! There are many more videos on the horizon highlighting businesses across the City of Auburn and I can't wait for you to see them.
Give us a follow on Facebook and don't miss out on any of the great content!
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