🌱Winds Topple 150-Foot N. Watts St. Tree + QFC Workers To Strike

Happy Tuesday, Portland! And Happy National Monkey Day, a day to celebrate monkeys, and other non-human primates such as lemurs, apes, and tarsiers. Heck, any excuse to celebrate is fine by me. Let me tell you about today!

First, today's weather:

It's a dry day today and we may even see a little sun. It will be cold though, with a high of 42.

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. Oh, boy, did we have a windy weekend! Those high winds brought down trees throughout the Portland metro area leaving many without power and doing thousands of dollars in damages to homes. As of this time, most, if not all of the power outages have been repaired, but over the weekend, more than 17,000 PGE customers had been affected. On Saturday, a 150-foot tall evergreen tree had fallen into the neighborhood on North Watts Street. The tree barely missed crushing houses on the block, but damaged awnings, gutters and powerlines. (KGW.com)
2. Volunteers were out collecting signatures for two ballot initiatives in downtown Portland Sunday. They say the initiatives could help reduce gun violence. Lift Every Voice Oregon has filed two statewide Initiative Petitions (IP) for the 2022 November ballot. (KATU)
3. Better get your holiday food shopping done early, if you shop at Fred Meyers or QFC. Grocery workers at those stores may be going on strike. Workers plan to go on strike beginning Friday morning if union leadership and management don’t reach an agreement on key bargaining issues. (The Oregonian)
4. A mix-up involving CBD and THC products sold in Oregon has so far led to nine lawsuits filed against Curaleaf Holdings. A tenth lawsuit involving a wrongful death complaint tied to the confusion of the two cannabis compounds is on its way. Portland attorney Michael Fuller — who is representing all claimants in these suits — says his clients experienced confusion, dizziness, fear of death, and psychosis after they consumed a product that was mislabeled as a CBD-only tincture. In actuality, they unknowingly consumed a significant amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. (OPB)
5. Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read told KOIN 6’s Eye on Northwest Politics that despite the economic turmoil as a result of the ongoing pandemic, Oregonians may see the largest state kicker ever. Read, a Democrat, is also looking for promotion: the governor’s role. Read launched his gubernatorial campaign in late September because of his belief in the need for “steady leadership” as the state emerges from the pandemic. (KOIN)

Today's Portland Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Portland!

Today in Portland:

• Join Portland Audubon as it presents the virtual event Nature Night: Finding Hope in Conservation History. Journalist Michelle Nijhuis, the author of the book Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction, will share some of her research on the accomplishments, oversights, and outsized personalities of the conservation movement, and discuss how this colorful history can guide and inspire today’s activists. Register online.7:00 - 8:30 PM.
• I guess tonight is an educational evening as OMSI Science Pub returns to the McMenamins Kennedy School Theater for the presentation From Landscapes to Leaves: Our Changing Urban Forest and the Work Ahead. Join Vivek Shandas, PhD, Professor of Climate Adaptation and Director of the Sustaining Urban Places Research Lab (SUPR Lab) at Portland State University and Aaron Ramirez, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Reed College as they shed light on the dynamic processes that help shape the green spaces in the Portland metro region. Tickets available online for both the in-person presentation and a streaming presentation over Zoom. 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
• Don't feel like using any brain power tonight? Then get your dancing shoes on and head over to Candy in downtown Portland for 22 & GOOD 4 U, a Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo dance night. They'll be playing music all night long from the likes of both artists for you to dance to! Get your tickets online. The music starts at 9:00 PM.
• Come to the Coffin Club for an evening of dark entertainment as it presents Burlynomicon, A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue. Featuring Jaxin Ryan, Romie Romak, Amber Lust and lauded showgirl Egypt Blaque Knyle. Produced and hosted by Natasha Riot. Tickets available online. The show starts at 7:00 PM.
• Get your daily dose of funk at the Goodfoot in SE Portland with Outer Orbit. Outer Orbit (PDX) is a funk soul collective led by Galen Clark (Trio Subtonic) and Sarah Clarke, featuring an all-star line up including Tyrone Hendrix (Prince), Damian Erskine (Skerik Band), Peter Knudsen (Ghost-note) and Mike Elson (Swatkins) and a rotating cast of special guests. Doors open at 8:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "@ericaspdx's lemon pepper wings are absolutely legendary. What's your favorite soul food dish in Portland? Drop it in the comments below so everyone can taste it! #ThisIsPortland #PDX #PDXNOW #TravelPortland #TravelOregon #PortlandOreg..." (Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "Today is PAM’s 129th Birthday! Help us celebrate by making a gift. Gifts of all sizes make free days, field trips, admission access programs, and more possible. In honor of PAM’s birthday, Linda Andrews and Don Hastler are matching all g..." (Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "As we enter winter, the days shorten and, at least here in the Pacific Northwest, the cloud cover grows. Soaking up moments of light and sun feels even more important for our mental health. We’re appreciating this painting by Frank Okada..." (Instagram)
• It's obviously the holiday season, but what does that mean for Portland? Here to tell us is local YouTuber Klearski the Kreeper talking about many fun holiday/Christmas traditions. (YouTube)
• I'm still doing my Christmas shopping, but it's never too early to think about New Year's Eve. And if you're thinking about going out, what could be more festive than a costume? Join costume-maker, celebrant, and all-around creator of neat things Wendi YuLing for one or more sessions of costume-making. Wendi will be on hand during all sessions to provide assistance as needed, so even if you have no experience making any art at all you are very welcome to join. There will be costuming supplies and making supplies on hand at the gallery, or bring your own if you'd like. Resister online to join in on the fun! (Eventbrite)

Loving the Portland Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at portland@patch.com

That's your Tuesday in Portland, my fine friends. Live your life and see the sights, but meet me back here tomorrow and we'll talk all about the city.

— 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.