🌱 Columbia River Cleanup+Police Return To Old Town

Hey, Portland, I'm here to welcome you to Wednesday! Today in the City of Roses we've got

• Residents of the Laurelhurst neighborhood that are lawyering up
• A star gazing party at Ecliptic Brewing
• and it's Light's Out tonight for Oregon birds

Let me tell you all about it.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds move in today and give up a high temp of 78. Nice!

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Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. This month, the U.S. Coast Guard begins cleanup of two massive sunken ships in the Columbia River that have been abandoned for years, and recently sunk off Hayden Island, and locals couldn't be happier. Houseboat resident Ron Schmidt says he’s thrilled Janzten Beach is getting this major clean-up. He adds he and other home and business owners along the river have worked hard to close this section of Jantzen Beach down because of how much the boats had deteriorated and were being used by others. (Fox 12 Oregon)
2. It's easy to see why Laurelhurst residents may be frustrated. Sweeps of the park see the removal of homeless campers who simply move back in a few days later. Now those residents have lawyered up. An unidentified group of neighborhood residents has hired one of the city’s most powerful attorneys to prod the city with an unexpected legal argument: Do it for the trees. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
3. A 5-year-old girl is safe due to one courageous caregiver. A male suspect, later identified as 43-year-old Spencer T. Meng, allegedly claimed that the 5-year-old girl was his daughter and he "thought her caregiver was harming her." Meng tried to take the child and threatened to stab the caregiver with a knife, Portland police said. The caregiver pulled out pepper spray and reportedly sprayed Meng, getting the child to safety. (KGW)
4. The city of Portland will step up police presence in the Old Town Entertainment District, according to Mayor Ted Wheeler. The city discontinued patrols in the district during the pandemic, leading club owners to employ armed private security officers. The increasingly brazen crime across Old Town has reinforced earlier complaints from employees of the Multnomah County Health Department, whose headquarters lies opposite Union Station, and beleaguered nonprofits in the neighborhood, including Blanchet House and the Lan Su Chinese Garden. (Willamette Week)
5. If you've been considering adopting a dog or a cat, now would be a good time. The Oregon Humane Society’s Portland and Salem campuses have received 38 dogs and 87 cats from only two separate cases. The first case began when OHS was asked by the Oakridge Police Department to help with a situation involving an “overwhelmed breeder.” Four OHS vans traveled to the site and retrieved the 38 Alaskan Malamutes. On the same day, they intervened in a suspected animal abuse case where nearly 100 cats were involved. (Fox 12 Oregon)

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Today in Portland:

• If you think you know your music, then test your knowledge at Music Bingo at Tomorrow's Verse Taproom. The announcer will take the stage, supply you with a song-filled Bingo sheet, then play tunes for you to identify and, hopefully, “BINGO!” 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
• Are you in the mood for some star gazing? Then head to the OMSI Star Party at Ecliptic Brewing. Ecliptic Brewing has teamed up with OMSI to deliver you an evening of delicious food, cold beer and a celestial viewing of the starry night sky above. Join OMSI’s Director of Space Science Education, Jim Todd, as he leads us through an educational presentation of the cosmic realm. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
• Aniana, with Feminine Touch & DJ Kelbel, will be performing at The Goodfoot. Collaborating in a treasure box of different acts over the years from reggae (602 Band, H.R., Danny Clarke), to hip hop (Antedote, Marv Ellis) to funk (Philly's Phunkestra, Commotion, Funk N' Roses) to jamtronica (Yak Attack), her sound is a curated mix of all the rhythms that have brought her musical joy. Doors open at 9:00 PM.
• Melange Presents Doo-Wop Heada$$ at the Clinton Street Theater. Swing on by for a night of melanated talent, and music from back in the day... That ol' Doo-Wop era!! Think Motown in the 50's & 60's, but add the hotness of some of Portland's fabulous entertainers! 8:00 - 10:30 PM.
• Grungy PDX Country duo Hell Nancy will be performing at Kelly's Olympian. They'll be joined by Laveda and Girlgoyle. Showtime is 9:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "Huge congratulations to @gg30000 and his team at @KannRestaurant for landing on the impressive @NYTimes' "Restaurant List." 50 spots across the country were honored as the restaurants they're "most excited about right now." We couldn't b..." (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Fall migration is underway and 5.1 million birds will be passing through Oregon skies tonight and tomorrow night! Please consider going #LightsOut to help them on their journey. Why #LightsOut? Light Pollution drowns out the stars that ..." (Portland Audubon via Instagram)
• The Autumnal Equinox is tomorrow and Leach Botanical Garden is throwing a party at the Aerial Tree Rock event in its honor! There will be live west coast country rock and soul music by Wanderlodge. Bring a picnic and enjoy strolling around the garden, then enjoy listening to the music as you take in the view from the aerial tree walk. Beer and wine will be available to purchase. (The Columbian)
• I did just mention the equinox, which means fall is coming and, with it, colorful foliage. This nifty little video shows an estimation of when some of the Oregon counties and Washington’s Clark County will show off the best colors. For the Portland metro area, that sweet spot typically falls around the second to the third week of October. (KOIN)
• Are you a supporter of Universal Basic Income? If so, then come out Saturday to march with the non-profit We Are The Economy at Peninsula Park. They want everyone to come together to take action for basic income all across the globe and demand our leadership adopt and pass a federal basic income as a means to a healthier, more innovative, and just society. (Action Network)
• Are you a fan of the Portland-based television series Grimm? Then you may be interested in The Grimmcast. What can “Grimm” fans expect from “The GrimmCast?” Here’s how a press release describes it: “The ladies of Grimm — Claire Coffee, Bitsie Tulloch, and Bree Turner — take you on a journey through each episode of the hit show. (The Oregonian)

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This is our last day of summer, my friends, so enjoy it. I, for one, welcome the fall. No matter the season, however, I'll keep singing the praises of our hometown, Portland. See you tomorrow, folks.

— 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? Contact me at portland@patch.com