Deadly Fake Drugs + Traffic App Woes + COVID Breakthrough Cases

It's a glorious Saturday here in Portland and I hope you get to experience all the delights this city has to offer. Well, maybe not all of them. That may be too much for anyone. So let's chat and I'll tell you about some of what's going on today.

First, today's weather:

A cloudy, but rain-free day today, with a high of 62. Amazing!

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. There has been a surge in fake, deadly pharmaceuticals in the Pacific Northwest. Investigators say there’s been a 275% increase in seizures of the counterfeit pharmaceuticals in the past year, many made in Mexico, then marketed online to look legitimate. “They weren’t very common up until a year and a half ago, and now they’ve become the norm for overdose deaths in the area,” said Alex Speldrich, a patrol sergeant with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. (OPB)
2. Cannabis and cannabis products have become so normalized here in Portland, that many take their safety for granted. Many don't realize that a significant number of supposedly non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) products are incorrectly labelled. The latest cautionary tale involved Select-brand products, manufactured by Curaleaf, one of the nation's largest cannabis companies. A line of their CBD drops, despite being labelled as containing no THC, the intoxicating component of cannabis, contained large amounts of THC. At least three people who took the high doses of the mislabeled marijuana products went to emergency rooms and at least one was hospitalized, according to lawsuits filed against Curaleaf. (OregonLive)
3. Many Portland-area drivers may believe that traffic apps, like Waze, are a godsend helping them get around town. Some Portland residents, however, are sick and tired of commuters using their residential streets as shortcuts with the help of such traffic apps. The City of Portland is also frustrated, saying it’s had to make changes at several intersections thanks to traffic apps that send cars through neighborhoods to bypass traffic jams. (KOIN)
4. In the Oregon Health Authority's COVID report released Thursday, it was noted that of the 10,411 cases last week, 24.4% of those were breakthrough cases. Ken Stedman, a biology professor at Portland State University and a virus hunter, said it is "not at all surprising" to see that many breakthrough cases. "The way vaccines work, and incredibly well, is they work at 95% efficiency. Which means if you're exposed to the virus 20 times and you're not vaccinated, you're going to get infected every time. If you are vaccinated, you'll get it only one of those 20 times," Stedman said. (KPTV)
5. Yesterday I reported about potential traffic delays due to a stretch of I-84 being closed, but I've just learned of another project that may cause commuter delays. This will mainly affect MAX riders, because Tri-Met will be starting a two-week project to improve a stretch of MAX tracks east of the Northeast 11th Avenue/Lloyd Center station. The project starts on Sunday, Oct. 10 and will go until Saturday, Oct. 23. (KGW)

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Today in Portland:

• There are tasty happenings at the Mercado in SE Portland today. In honor and continuation of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Portland Mercado is happy to invite you to the Moles and Stews Festival – the most delicious food event of the Fall! 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
• Get ready for Halloween by attending the Halloween Costume Swap at Irving Park in NE Portland. Hosted by Tenacious Rose PDX, they're asking people to bring or donate clean useable costumes and accessories to swap. Homemade costumes welcome! Due to our pandemic foe, we'll enforce a mask policy, practicing social distancing and only allowing a few people on the floor at any given time. Noon - 4:00 PM.
• Families For Climate is hosting a Fall Plant Sale in NE Portland. You don't even need to leave the comfort of your home to go shopping, because they have a website set up that allows you to purchase plants online and pick them up later. Sale goes on from 2:00 - 6:00 PM.
• Shady Pines Radio will be at the Cruzroom in NE Portland for their Cruzin In The Pines event. Come join them, grab a bite and a beer and listen to their DJs spin tunes all day long. 3:00 - 10:00 PM.
• Acoustic duo A.C.T. 2 will be performing at the Eastport Food Carts on SE 82nd Ave this evening. With 25 different food carts, you're bound to find something you like. Grab a bite and listen to fun, acoustic versions of pop and rock hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s! Fun place with awesome cuisine from around the world! 5:00 - 8:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Not sure how many people know about this, but Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) releases a Monday Mix every week, a playlist of songs to start your week off right. I've found it's a great way to get exposed to songs and artists I might never have known about. Check it out and you might find your new favorite band! (OPB)
• Are any of my readers out there car enthusiasts? This Sunday, Oct. 10th, the Rose City Extrauto is coming to the South Park Blocks. For car enthusiasts this is the first car show event since the Portland Art Museum’s Auto Exhibition in 2011. During the show, spectators can view a broad range of vehicles from 50s and 60s American classics, current imports, to electric vehicles. (Rose City Extrauto)
• Maybe you're not into cars? How about fishies? The Greater Portland Aquarium Society will present the First Annual Fishoberfest this Sunday, Oct. 10th, at the Embassy Suites in NE Portland. There will be aquarium workshops and guest speakers, as well an aquarium-related "get together" and swap meet. Sounds like a great day out for those who love aquatic creatures. (GPAS)
• Not sure who has gotten over to North Portland to see the Paul Bunyan statue, but it has to be one of Portland's oddest landmarks. At 31-feet tall, Paul Bunyan towers over the corner of N. Denver and N. Interstate in the Kenton Neighborhood. Built in 1959 at a cost of about $2,500, the concrete and metal sculpture was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. (Instagram)

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That's a Saturday full of fun for anyone who cares to enjoy it. So get out there and take Portland by storm. I'm going to have a break next week, but I promise I'll be back, because no one can get me to stop talking about Portland. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow 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? Email me at portland@patch.com.