🌱 BIPOC School + Preparing For The Big One + Columbia Pollution

Happy Wednesday to all the fine people in Portland. It's December, a whole new month, and all the excitement that comes with it. I wish you all a Happy Festivus! Now, let me tell you about today.

First, today's weather:

It'll be partly cloudy today with a high of 58. Wow, we've got some nice weather for today!

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. A new charter school is coming to the east side of Portland and executive director and founder Eric Knox says the curriculum will prioritize minority voices. HOLLA School will be housed in the Rockwood Boys and Girls Club. The Reynolds School District recently approved the charter for Holla, a nonprofit mentorship program already at work in the district. (KATU)
2. Oregonians in West Portland and the Tigard area have a new state senator to represent them, after county commissioners voted on Monday to appoint former state representative Akasha Lawrence Spence to the vacant Senate District 18 seat. She'll be replacing longtime lawmaker Ginny Burdick who resigned to start her new job on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Lawrence Spence will serve the rest of Burdick's term, which ends next year, but she won't be running for reelection. Instead, she'll be challenging Dan Ryan for his seat on City Council. (oregonlive.com)
3. Portland's bridges are aging and Multnomah County officials are looking ahead to prevent a catastrophic failure in the future. The current conversation has focused on the Burnside Bridge, and how badly it would fare if an earthquake were to occur. The county is looking to rebuild the Burnside Bridge before a "Big One" hits, providing a lifeline between downtown and the eastside. Mike Pullen, a spokesperson for Multnomah County, says the first estimate for a new bridge was $1 billion. Unhappy with that price tag, the county is exploring other options and would like the public's input. There are now three bridge designs people can look at and vote on. The options are different than the original re-design that had the $1 billion price tag, but some are more cost effective than others. (KATU)
4. COVID talk now seems to be centered on the Omicron variant and what its effects will be. The good news is that, so far, no cases of Omicron have been seen in Oregon, or any of the United States for that matter. What we do know is that the basic prevention steps we have long talked about remain the best ways to protect yourself against Omicron, Delta or any variant of COVID-19 that is circulating. Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19 infection and transmission, including most circulating variants. (KOIN)
5. It’s the infamous view along the Columbia River right next to the I-5 bridge: a collection of derelict boats just offshore of a homeless camp. One of the boats sank a few months ago. That creates pollution that makes things difficult for anyone along the Columbia. FOX 12 spoke to several agencies involved in various aspects of managing the water, derelict boats, and shoreline. A spokesman for the Coast Guard said it's working with the EPA and state to come up with a plan to remove the submerged boat from the water. (KPTV)

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Today in Portland:

• A wine tasting? At a brewery? Now I've seen everything! Good Wines & Good Times will be held at Breakside Brewery in NW Portland. Join Chosen Family Wines as they share their new releases: a 2020 Chosen Family Chardonnay and a 2019 Chosen Family Pinot Noir, both from the Willamette Valley. Tickets are available online. 4:30 - 7:30 PM.
• If your 2 great loves are drinking beer and helping wildlife then you may wish to join the Oregon Wildlife Foundation for its Beer For Deer release party. A red lager, Beer For Deer is a specialty brew collaboration with Migration Brewing. The event is taking place at Hopworks Urban Brewery in North Portland and 10% of sales of the evening will be donated to Oregon Wildlife Foundation. You even get a free tote bag with the purchase of a 6-pack. 4:00 - 9:00 PM.
• This seems to be the evening for drinking beer and giving to charity. If you're interested in protecting and restoring our rivers to sustain native fish and wildlife, consider visiting Oakshire Beer Hall in NE Portland where WaterWatch will be camping out. WaterWatch staff will be tabling and sharing swag, videos, and information about its recent work. Come on down, say hi, and buy a pint! $1 from each pint sold benefits WaterWatch AND 10% of all to-go sales from the whole day. Have a beer and support the work for Oregon's rivers! 5:00 - 7:00 PM.
• NYC-based Reggae and Ska band the Slackers will be at Dante's tonight in downtown Portland. The band is deeply rooted within the ska movement, while its self-proclaimed "Jamaican Rock n' Roll" sound sets it apart from many bands today. Also performing will be The Bandulus. Get your tickets online. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
• Today is Songwriter Wednesday at the Blue Diamond in NE Portland. Enjoy an intimate and casual writers-in-the-round kind of night watching songwriters perform some of their own and material from others. Hear about their inspiration for their lyrics and enjoy some of the best chef-inspired food around. Hosted by Rae Gordon, with special guests Pat Stilwell and Michael McGinty. Doors open at 5:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Y’all are always asking for defense highlights… so here you go! 🐜🐜🐜" (Instagram)
• Portland Trail Blazers: "Season high 24 points for @antsimons off the bench" (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Short-eared Owls are not your typical owl species. First, they like to hunt during the day and can be seen in large open spaces like grasslands flying low to the ground in “a mothlike” fashion. Second, they don’t nest in trees but, rathe..." (Instagram)
• Portland Parks & Recreation: "Portland Parks & Recreation is hiring new teammates in many divisions and departments! Recreation, aquatics, environmental education, maintenance, and more. Learn more and apply today at Portland.gov/parks/employment [IMAGE: A photo of s..." (Facebook)
• Portland Farmers Market: "➡️ Threw in a couple photos of the pao cai coming your way on Dec 4th at PSU Farmers Market ➡️ REPOST @lizcrainpdx " (Facebook)
• The Portland Farmers Market's Sandorpalooza won't mean much to individuals who don't know who Sandor Katz is. This short documentary profiles the queer farmer and food writer Sandor Katz, whose work in culinary fermentation transformed his relationship with life and death. I got his book Wild Fermentation and have been wild about fermentation ever since. (YouTube)
• Yesterday was GivingTuesday, a day set aside for Portland residents to focus on gratitude and giving back. But don't worry if you missed it, because GivingTuesday and its mission also falls effortlessly in with "30 Days Of Gratitude," a Patch series exploring the intentionality of gratitude and how it enriches our lives. Gratitude is not singularly focused, Robert Emmons, a University of California - Davis psychology professor, said in a YouTube video for the Greater Good Science Center, but rather recognizes that the sources of goodness are other people who "gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives." (Portland Patch)
• If you're planning your Hanukkah celebration, it might help to know that Portland has a lot of places to get the dishes that make the holiday special. From the classic deli Kornblatt's on NW 23rd to a Vegan Jewish Deli called Ben & Esther's, there are several spots you can find the right food for the season. (KXL)
• If you're looking for a soundtrack to this holiday season, tune your radio dial to 89.9 FM for All Classical Portland. From Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day, tune in for special holiday programming to keep your spirit merry and bright. And I know I said radio (yes, that's how old I am), but it also streams to anywhere with an internet connection through its online player. (All Classical)

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That sounds like a great start to December. Here's to hoping that the rest of the month is just as good. But no matter how things will be, I'll still be back tomorrow to tell you all about it. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Dominic Anaya

About me: Doctor, educator and now a writer/artist, I'm just chillin' in Portland, OR with my wife, our ferrets, our chickens and our goats.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Portland Daily? Reach out anytime to portland@patch.com.