Good Morning it’s Thursday June 24th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Today --- About 70 people gathered Saturday for Wenatchee’s second annual Juneteenth celebration. The Pioneer Park event came just two days after President Joe Biden signed into law a bill making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.

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Now our feature story…

About 70 people gathered Saturday for Wenatchee’s second annual Juneteenth celebration. The Pioneer Park event came just two days after President Joe Biden signed into law a bill making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.

Chelsea Murphy, event organizer, said she was “over the moon” seeing people come together at the park.

She noted that she’s so thankful to be a Black woman today, in this community. To her, knowing what her ancestors have overcome - it’s definitely a day of celebration.

Murphy said she is excited for the future of Juneteenth in the Valley and hopes knowledge of the holiday will grow over time.

Murphy explained that everyone should share in the celebration of Juneteenth. The day is for all Americans, not just for the Black community. Families can take this day, learn a little, and have their own special way of celebrating.

A lot of people were protesting and marching for Juneteenth last year, but now in 2021, people can take a break and share the joy while gathered together.

Murphy says that she knows that there are things that we still need to work on, but for the holiday she paused for joy.

It’s the second year Wenatchee Valley residents have gathered for the celebration.

The history of Juneteenth dates to June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the Civil War had ended.

Granger’s arrival freed enslaved people in the region a full two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

After the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed there weren’t enough Union troops in Texas to enforce the order until Granger’s arrival and the end of the Civil War.

Wenatchee resident Kim Steensma brought her two daughters out to the event. She told us that Wenatchee is “doing so many new things, and she’s just grateful that we could do this as a community.

Sarah Horowitz, a Leavenworth resident, also came to the park celebration with her family. She said it is important to participate in Juneteenth.

To Horowtiz, we know too much now to be blind or ignorant and celebrating this holiday means an awareness of people who came before.

Cameron Shepherd Beyenberg, a Wenatchee resident and poet, spoke during the event. She emphasized that the emancipation of all people is a true celebration of independence.

To read more about this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

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The public will be able to comment on Chelan County’s proposed short-term rental code at a hearing at the end of the month on June 29th.

This follows a meeting earlier this month when Chelan County commissioners met with the county’s Community Development Director Jim Brown to work on changes to the draft of the short-term rental code.

Apparently, the changes incorporated from the workshops last week did not substantially change the draft of short-term rental code. Changes were mostly focused on processes for registering.

Drafts of the short-term rental code and recordings of short-term rental workshops are available at wwrld.us/rentalspage.

You can also send comments to CD.STRComment@co.chelan.wa.us by email until July 2nd.

The board of commissioners plans to make a final decision on the code July 14.

Now, some RECENT history…

Last year was Wenatchee’s first ever official Juneteenth event. 

The day has been celebrated since the late 1800s, but its recognition in recent years has seen a phenomenal growth rate within communities and organizations throughout the country. 

And last year though it was a recognized holiday in Washington, it was not a legal state holiday.

The death of George Floyd and weeks of national protests that occurred last year intensified focus on the holiday, and the larger issue of racial discrimination in America.

Cities across North Central Washington joined those Black Lives Matter protests, often drawing more than 1,000 people for speeches and marches.

And at last year's Juneteenth celebration in Wenatchee music was played, information was shared and voter registration was encouraged.

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

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