🌱 Grape Research + Street Response Expanding + More Police

Remember, remember the 5th of November. Happy Friday and happy Guy Fawkes Day! I'm not sure if "happy" is appropriate. Is it a day of remembrance or a day of celebration? I guess it's one of those things that depends on one's point of view. Before I make this newsletter too deep, let me just talk about what's going on today.

First, today's weather:

Wow, it's chilly today! Mostly rain, but a little break in the afternoon and a high of 53. Stay warm out there, folks.

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. Did you know that wine grapes are the highest value fruit crop in the United States? That's why the increase in wildfires in the Pacific Northwest is of major concern to the nation, as well as farmers in the Willamette Valley. Researchers from Oregon State University and some other schools on the West Coast are working to study the effect that smoke has on grapes with the hopes of giving farmers information on how to better protect their crops. (Portland Patch)
2. The pandemic hit several industries hard, not the least of which was the music industry. To address that, the non-profit MusicPortland has released a seven-point plan outlining specific steps that might help ensure the survival of the city’s music scene. A major sticking point for the group is restrictive noise ordinances that it says are too subjective and damaging to the music industry here in Portland. (OPB News)
3. The Portland Street Response team is finally expanding. Once restricted to the Lents neighborhood, it will now patrol 36 square miles of the city. It began Nov. 4, and now the street response team will add a night shift — staffed by one firefighter/emergency medical technician, a mental health crisis responder and two peer support specialists. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who spearheaded the program from the beginning, praised its growth as a crucial “next step.” (KOIN.com)
4. With $62 million in surplus funds in the Portland city budget, Mayor Ted Wheeler is hoping to redirect some of those funds to re-staffing the Portland Police Bureau and investing in public safety. In the mayor's new proposal, he says he's looking to add 40 Public Safety Support Specialists. The mayor's also proposing to change training with the Portland Police Bureau, by hiring a dean of police education and training. (KPTV.com)
5. Former gang member Lionel Irving is concerned with increasing gun violence in Portland. That's why he founded the group Love Is Stronger. Now he is constantly reminding young people about the rules of the street: Don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Irving has seen his share of violence on the streets and during his time in prison. What’s happening now in Portland, he said, is heartbreaking. (KOIN.com)

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Today in Portland:

• Do you love coffee? No, I mean, REALLY love coffee. Then you need to be at the Oregon Convention Center for Coffee Fest PNW/Portland. There will be tons of vendors, workshops and seminars and even some competitions. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required for entry. Registration and tickets are available online. The excitement starts at 10:00 AM.
• Whether or not you took advantage of First Thursday, you can get your art on with First Friday PDX at The Angry Florist in NE Portland. Enjoy work from many local artists! Art will also be on display at Neighbor's Taproom, The Splendorporium and Afru Galley. Live music, art, drinks, what more could one want for a Friday night? 4:00 - 8:00 PM.
• The Clinton Street Theater in SE Portland isn't just for movies. Come see a night of local talent as it presents musical acts The Dark Mother, DoublePlay and Shane Brown. Tickets are available online. Show starts at 7:00 PM.
• Wow, I guess First Friday is becoming a thing. For a crazy, art-filled evening, check out the Old Town Gallery in NW Portland. There will be an illustration exhibit by Irma Bastida, Latin Stand Up and musical guest Nathan H. Headliner is psychedelic, stoner rock band Lazy Universe. Doors open at 6:00 PM.
• For some live action excitement, consider Conor McPherson's stage adaptation of The Birds, performing at Imago Theater in SE Portland. Theater has a long history of providing film with raw material but outside musicals, how often do movies get made into plays? Conor McPherson's ingenious The Birds takes one of Hitchcock's most iconic fright flicks and transforms it into a tension-filled chamber drama in which four characters struggle to survive an ever-encroaching airborne apocalypse. Get your tickets online. 7:30 - 9:30 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Travel Portland: "Happy #NationalSandwichDay! Where's your favorite sandwich in Portland? Drop it in the comments below so everyone can check it out! #ThisIsPortland : An Xuyen Bakery : @diningwithdao #PDX #PDXNOW #TravelPortland #TravelOregon #Port..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Turns out Condors are even cooler than we thought! Thanks to extensive mapping of condor genetics, researchers recently discovered that two unrelated females have successfully produced young through a process of asexual reproduction ..." (Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "Mesh opens this Saturday! The exhibition features the bold work of four emerging and early career artists whose multidisciplinary work touches on current social issues including the ongoing fight against racial injustice and conflicts ov..." (Instagram)
• Yesterday I mention a kickoff celebration for the Give!Guide put out by the Willamette Week and while celebrations are great, the Give!Guide serves a great purpose. It represents several local non-profits and raises thousands of dollars every year. Give it a look see and open your wallets for a good cause. As a former physician, I fully support North by Northeast Community Health Center who provide free and low-cost healthcare to many Portland residents, but, if you're willing to donate to the community, look through the guide and see what speaks to you. You'll feel good that you did. (Give!Guide)
• The 82nd Avenue Business Association wants you to expand your palate with its Around the World in 82 Dishes 2021 event. Take the food tour of a lifetime without leaving the city. From October 23rd through November 7th, sample delicious dishes and drinks from across the globe at restaurants on Portland’s most diverse street – 82nd Avenue. To enter the contest, shop or eat at one of the eligible locations during the contest dates, October 23rd through November 7th. Then post about it on social media with the hashtag #82Dishes. Please include the location’s name and pictures of your food or the location visited. Enter as many times as you like. We will select winners at random from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. (82nd Avenue Business Association)
• There was some buzz in the news about Portland-area property owners being shocked at how much their property tax bill has gone up. I'm not sure if anyone has a great explanation about this, but I just found out that there is a Tax Fairy in Portland. Intriguing. Perhaps the problem with Portland is that we're not hiring enough Fae Identifying individuals. (YouTube)

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How's that for starting your weekend with a bang! Get it? See what I did there? Oh, never mind. There's a reason I'm not a comedian. What I am, however, is someone who loves talking about Portland, so meet me back here tomorrow and let me do what I do best. If you're loving 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? Contact me at portland@patch.com.