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 “Self-reflection is a much kinder teacher than regret is. Prioritize yourself by making a habit of it.”
-- Andrena Sawyer --
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 This past week was the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington DC – the other Washington. Deputy Mayor Rakes and Councilmembers Trout-Manuel, Baldwin, T. Taylor, C. Taylor. Amer and I all attended. There were committee meetings that we attended, as well as general and breakout sessions. Three of our Auburn Junior City Councilmembers attended the Youth Conference also put on by NLC, and enjoyed engaging with other students from across the country. They also took the opportunity to tour some of the amazing museums in DC to better understand our history and how it impacts our future.
 Housing was a prominent topic at the conference at both general and breakout sessions. We know that stable housing supplies are essential for economic prosperity, job security, public health and public safety. One of the answers is partnerships- public/private and federal-local collaborations. They can foster economic vitality and expand opportunities in our cities. The conference introduced a new leadership table for housing policy leaders and innovators in the public and private sector – America’s Housing Comeback. We’ll be watching closely to see how Auburn can participate and benefit. Other topics included Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – the uncertainty of funding for cities, transportation, and public safety.
 Local electeds from Washington met with Senator Maria Cantwell and staff from Senator Patty Murray’s office (she was in a committee meeting). Senator Cantwell talked about transportation needs including at grade crossings and freight mobility. She also is an advocate for the Low Income Tax Credits that help developers build affordable housing. She is supportive of more funding to battle the fentanyl crisis, as well as growing our workforce training. Our time with her was short, but her words are powerful.
 I am pleased to share that Julie Krueger has been appointed as the Parks, Arts & Recreation Director! Julie has been with the City since 2010 and has been the Arts & Events Manager during that time. She brings with her an immense amount of enthusiasm, love for the community and a wealth of knowledge. Julie’s years of experience with all things parks, arts & recreation related will be invaluable as she takes the leadership role after Daryl Faber’s well-deserved retirement.
I look forward to working with her in her new position on the executive leadership team.
Please join me in congratulating Julie as she takes on this new role!
 Join the fun this weekend (Friday and Monday included!) for Coffee for a Cause! This is a four-day community-wide fundraising event hosted by the Auburn Area Connect Chamber of Commerce to support local businesses and to raise awareness and financial support of three local non-profits -- the Auburn Food Bank, Foster Champs of Washington, and See Ya Later Foundation!
For every drink purchased from a participating location, they will donate .50 cents to “Coffee for a Cause." At the end of the event, funds raised will be equally divided amongst the three non-profit organizations. Visit a participating business to complete challenges and score points.
And it's not just coffee!! Look for other challenges like trivia and picture challenges. The players that score the most points will be eligible to win prizes! We are limited to 500 players so sign up fast! Get the Eventzee app now and get signed up for this cool event. Use event code COFFEE when you're set up in the app and your phone will tell you what to do.
iOS App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1485048557
Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freezetag.eventzee
Participating Locations:
- Ristretto’s Coffee | 27 15th St NE, Auburn, WA 98002
- PNW Coffee | 110 2nd St SW #130, Auburn, WA 98001
- Java Junction | 620 A St SE, Auburn, WA 98002
- Java Junction Espresso | 1111 17th St SE, Auburn, WA 98002
- Bigfoot Java |407 Auburn Way S |Auburn WA 98002
- Bigfoot Java | 802 14th St NE | Auburn WA 98002
- Gosanko’s One East Main and the Outlet Mall
- Coffee Vault |314 182nd Ave E Lake Tapps
- Coffee Vault | 18215 9th St E Lake Tapps
- Zola’s Café |402 E Main St
Visit Auburn Area Connect's website for more info.
 We're back with another season of the That's So Auburn! podcast! And the first three episodes are all about your Auburn City Council. Spaced over the span of three weeks, we'll release a new episode each Friday morning beginning...today!
(from left) Deputy Mayor Cheryl Rakes, Councilmember Clinton Taylor and Mayor Nancy Backus
That's right -- head on over to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or YouTube to watch or listen to the latest episode featuring Deputy Mayor Cheryl Rakes and Clinton Taylor.
Follow or subscribe and get ready for a conversation next Friday with Councilmembers Yolanda Trout-Manuel and Kate Baldwin, and then last but not least, Councilmembers Tracy Taylor and Hana Amer the following Friday.
Have an idea for future podcast guests? Let us know!
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Auburn Community Players: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
The Auburn Community Players are at it again! This musical look at “Big Business” means Big Laughs in a delightfully clever lampoon of life on the corporate ladder! Tackling such familiar but potent dangers as the aggressively compliant "company man," the office party, backstabbing coworkers, caffeine addiction, and, of course, true love, we follow the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch as he uses a little handbook called How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying to climb the corporate ladder from lowly window washer to high-powered executive. Get your tickets today!
📅 March 14, 15 & 16
⏰ Various times
📍 Green River College - Student Affairs Building | 12401 SE 320th St.
💲 Tickets ($22 student/senior, $25 regular, $27 & $30 at the door)
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Make and Mingle @ Postmark
Stop by the Postmark for our Make & Mingle session! Join us for a cup of coffee with whatever art project you might be working on. A free, no-pressure environment for artists and creatives to gather... you can talk with other artists, ask for feedback or critique from on-site staff if available, bring your sketchbook to work out ideas, or just quietly draw in the gallery or work on your art! Intended for ages 18+.
📅 Wednesdays
⏰ 10 a.m. - Noon
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Free
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Hunting, Fishing, and Native Sovereignty
Free Event courtesy of Humanities Washington
What happens when the sovereignty of one nation conflicts with the laws and practices of another?
The Treaty of 1855 is a document signed by Native American leaders, Washington Territory’s Governor Isaac Stevens, and Oregon Territory’s Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Joel Palmer. Palmer and Stevens pushed for “exploitative treaties” by “cajoling and threatening the delegates,” according to historians at the National Park Service. Despite resistance from Yakama Chief Kamiakin, Nations were confined to reservations and other areas were opened for white settlement, including “ceded land.” While the Yakamas could continue to hunt and use this land, the treaty removed the Yakamas’ exclusive use of it, granting wide access of the land to white settlers.
Aaron Paul Whitefoot (he/him) graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University. Whitefoot served as a tradition bearer in the Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program from the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, teaching hunting, fishing, tying nets, and cutting and processing elk. He runs the Yakama Nation Hunters and Gatherers Facebook page and a YouTube channel where he demonstrates his craft.
📅 Wednesday, March 19
⏰ 6 - 7:30 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. Southeast
💲 Free (please register)
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Artist Statement & Grant Writing for Creatives
Artist statements and grants are hard to write, but they are an important tools for artists working in any discipline. In this workshop, led by the City of Auburn’s arts staff, you will learn the basics of writing successful artist statements and begin creating your own, as well as tips and best practices for grant writing. By the end of the workshop, you will have the start to a solid artist statement and knowledge about how to write successful grant applications.
Ages: 15+
Fee: $15/$19 Resident/Non-Res
Instructor: Postmark Staff
📅 Thursday, March 20
⏰ 4:30 - 6 p.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Register ($15 resident, $19 non-resident)
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Drop-In Drawing @ Postmark
Come stop by for our new Drop-In Drawing sessions at the Postmark! A free, no-pressure environment for artists and creatives to drop-in to draw from a still life or the gallery. Stay for whole two hours or only 10 minutes. Bring tools to either shade or color with, and your own sketchbook or drawing pad. There will be on-site help for critique/questions/advice. All are welcome.
Ages: 15+
Registration: $0
Instructor: Postmark Staff
📅 Fridays
⏰ 10 a.m. - Noon
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Free
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Drop-In Painting With Amy Sie @ Postmark
Amy Sie is offering Drop-In Gongbi Painting sessions at the Postmark! A free, no-pressure environment for you to start a new painting, or work on an old one. Please bring your own tools and materials for watercolor painting. On-site help for critique/questions/advice. All are welcome.
Ages: 18+
Fee: $0
Instructor: Amy Sie
📅 Fridays
⏰ 10 a.m. - Noon
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Free
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Different Drummer @ Postmark
Different Drummer is a multi-genre chamber ensemble comprised of violin, cello, double bass and percussion. This unlikely quartet creates an exhilarating visual and musical show, adding a whimsical element to the chamber/jazz ensemble. Percussionist Don Dieterich delights audiences with his “drum set” comprised of a desk, typewriter, telephone, lampshade, trash can, desk bells, stampers, and a suitcase kick drum! Experience the fun of Different Drummer!
📅 Friday, March 21
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Tickets ($19 student/senior, $22 regular)
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Radical Poetics: Erasures as Reclamation
Erasure or blackout poems are created by covering up or “erasing” parts of pre-existing texts including books, medical papers, legal documents, and more. In this two-day generative workshop students will work with Auburn's Poet Laureate, Mateo Acuña, to create blackout poetry and analyze erasures as conversing with and countering the original source text as a means for advocacy, social justice, and dissent against mainstream narratives.
Dates: March 26th and 27th, 6 - 7:30PM Ages: 15+
Fee: $25/$32 Resident/Non-Res
Instructor: Mateo Acuña
📅 Wednesday, March 26
⏰ 6 - 7:30 p.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Register ($25 resident, $32 non-resident)
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Book Explorers with KCLS - Gifts From Georgia's Garden
Free Program!
Calling all Book Explorers! Looking for a literary adventure? Join us for book discussions and museum activities.
Do you have a garden? Why are we so drawn to natural beauty? Celebrate spring and Women’s History Month with an artist who painted the nature she loved. Then dig into activities connected to gardens and art.
Ages 7 and older.
📅 Thursday, March 27
⏰ 4:30 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. Southeast
💲Free
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Comedy at the Course
Comedy at the Course will keep you laughing all night long as three comedians work to twist your funny bone. Ages 18 and over only.
📅 Friday, March 28
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Auburn Golf Course - Bogey's Public House | 29630 Green River Road
💲 Tickets ($19 student/senior, $22 regular)
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Framing for Beginners
Framing artwork can be expensive and intimidating, so being able to DIY is a wonderful skill to have! In this workshop City of Auburn arts staff will teach students how to use basic supplies to mat, frame, and install hardware to artworks for professional-looking display. There is no experience required and all are welcome!
Ages: 15+
Fee: $15/$19 Resident/Non-Res
Instructor: Postmark Staff
📅 Thursday, April 3
⏰ 4:30 - 6 p.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Register ($15 resident, $19 non-resident)
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Sound Worlds featuring violinist Ilana Zaks
Sound Worlds is a one-hour program featuring music for violin and electronics. This program features music by Hunter Prueger, ('Silent Moment', 2023), Brannon Warn-Johnston's A Year with Cancer', (2024), Patrick Long ('Shadow Steps', 2011; finished 2021), Aaron Levin's Videogame Vespers' (2023). This program is intended to bring awareness to underrepresented composers innovating and bringing sounds from their life experiences to one of the oldest existing instruments: the violin.
FREE | ALL AGES
📅 Friday, April 4
⏰ 7 - 8 p.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn. Ave.
💲 Free
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Stonesy – The Music of The Rolling Stones
STONESY is a Seattle based band faithfully reproducing the timeless music of the Rolling Stones on stage! Their vocals, instrumentals and precision drumming combine to create riotous rock 'n' roll like only the Rolling Stones and Stonesy can deliver. Hold onto your top hat and join in the fun – “It's a gas, gas, gas…”!
📅 Saturday, April 5
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Green River College - Student Affairs Building | 12401 SE 320th St.
💲Tickets ($22 student/senior, $25 regular)
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Auburn Symphony: Visions of America
Journey with the Orchestra through the breadth and depth of the American landscape. From the quiet beauty of rural America in Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land Suite, to the joyful praise break of a church in Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances, to the inspirational march of a band in William Walton’s Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, revel in the triumphant sounds of the American dream.
Join us at 1:30 before the concert for a talk with Dr. Gwynne K. Brown.
📅 Sunday. April 6
⏰ 2:30 - 4 p.m.
📍 Auburn Performing Arts Center | 702 4th St. NE
💲 Tickets ($10-$45)
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Unit Souzou - Constant State of Otherness
Experience the imagination, creativity, and incomparable sound of Unit Souzou taiko drummers as they present Constant State of Otherness. This multi-layered performance explores the impacts of the universal experiences of othering and alienation. Through taiko, Japanese folk dance, song, and personal story, six performers guide the audience through a four-part journey inspired by experiences of isolation and displacement. Rooted in ancestral wisdom and survival, Constant State of Otherness explores the complicated emotions that otherness evokes. By allowing their stories to fractally unfold through the resonance of drum, voice and movement, Unit Souzou offers an invitation to locate our shared longing to belong.
📅 Saturday, April 12
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Auburn Performing Arts Center | 702 4th St. NE
💲 Tickets ($27 student/senior, $30 regular)
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Peter Cotton Trail
Friday, April 18 - Monday, April 21, 2025
Hop through Auburn's parks and trails in search of the elusive bunnies who will be hidden in various locations around Auburn. Find 10 bunnies, submit a scorecard, and get entered for a chance to win some awesome prizes! This family-friendly event is perfect for all ages, including seniors and those in the specialized recreation community. It's a great way to get outside, stay active, and enjoy the outdoors!
📅 Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, April 18 - 21
⏰ Various times
📍 Parks across Auburn
💲 Learn more
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The Tammy Frost Trio
This versatile group will captivate your soul! The Tammy Frost Trio, featuring Al Alto and Pete Jungschaffer, offers a diverse musical repertoire that includes original compositions, cowboy songs, jazz standards, 70s hits, and Motown classics. With a remarkable talent for reimagining songs, the trio delivers fresh, soulful, and exciting renditions that captivate their audience.
📅 Friday, April 18
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn. Ave.
💲 Tickets ($19 student/senior, $22 regular)
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Rhythm & Rhymes Story Hour
Join Auburn Symphony Orchestra and the Auburn Public Library for Rhythm and Rhymes Story Hour! Enjoy a fun, interactive music presentation with ASO musicians followed by a story read-aloud with an Auburn librarian. This FREE program is best for ages 3-8 but families of all ages are encouraged to attend. Take home a craft kit to continue the fun at home!
Ages: 3-8
Fee: $0
Instructors: Auburn Symphony Orchestra and the Auburn Public Library
📅 Saturday, April 19
⏰ 10 a.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn. Ave.
💲 Register (free)
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Clean Sweep
Auburn’s 2025 Clean Sweep will be held Saturday, April 26. This event is held in honor of Earth Day. Projects will focus on clean-up, environmental restoration, and beautification efforts in and around Auburn. Volunteer groups will work on light clean-up and maintenance; landscaping, painting, weeding, and planting in and around downtown and at various park sites; and a handful of other projects as needed
Volunteers can either choose to participate in a specific project or can ask to be assigned to any project, in which case your group will be assigned where the most volunteer support is needed. Service clubs, social service agencies, faith-based groups, scouting troops, businesses, families, and individuals are being asked to come together and work on these projects.
The morning agenda for Saturday, April 26 is as follows:
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. ……Check in – Auburn Community & Events Center
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. ……Welcome Breakfast – Auburn Community & Events Center
8:45 – 9:00 a.m.. ......Check in at project location – emailed in advance
***Be sure to bring your own water to your project***
9 a.m. – noon ......Volunteers commence project tasks
Online Registration closes Wednesday, April 23 at 5 p.m.
📅 Saturday, April 26
⏰ 8:30 a.m.
📍 Auburn Community and Events Center | 910 Ninth St. SE
💲 Register (free)
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Comedy at the Course
Comedy at the Course will keep you laughing all night long as three comedians work to twist your funny bone. Ages 18 and over only.
📅 Saturday, April 26
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Auburn Golf Course - Bogey's Public House | 29630 Green River Road
💲 Tickets ($19 student/senior, $22 regular)
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The mountain was OUT Friday morning! Our team snapped this photo just as the sun was rising over the White River Valley and touching Mt. Ranier.
 Auburn is rich with history — from historical Main Street to the artifacts preserved throughout White River Valley Museum — I am excited to share these stories with all of you each week.
(Image courtesy of White River Valley Museum)
The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program was a popular federal anti-drugs program targeted at elementary school students in the 1990s. At its height, approximately 75% of public school students in the United States went through the program -- including these Auburn students, shown at a D.A.R.E graduation in 1998. While the program was discontinued in the 2000s after studies showed it was ineffective and even harmful, the ubiquitous D.A.R.E. t-shirts, stickers, and other printed materials remain one of the most recognizable logos of the 1990s.
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