🌱 Shad Thrives in Columbia + No ERAP Processing For Non-Profits

The weekend is here, my friends, and an exciting weekend it is. Especially if you're a soccer fan. We are hosting this year's MLS Cup, as the Timbers face off against New York City FC! Timbers Army represent! Let me tell you about today.

First, today's weather:

It's a windy, rainy day with a high of 48. But the holiday cheer will keep us warm.

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. In searching for a solution to the homeless crisis that plagues Portland, some have asked why the city isn't using many of the long-closed big box stores as shelters. The answer is that they have used them in some cases, but it's not as easy a fix as it may seem. During a taping of Straight Talk with Laural Porter, Housing Commissioner Dan Ryan addressed the questions he’s also faced about large, empty box stores. Commissioner Ryan added the biggest barrier, aside from willingness among private owners to sell properties for use as shelters or villages, is cost. (KGW)
2. All of downtown Portland is abuzz today, excited at the influx of tourists and sports fans that are packing the city for the Major League Soccer Cup that's happening at Providence Park. Fans started arriving Thursday night and have been camping out around the stadium in hopes of scoring one of 1,000 precious wristbands that will allow those with general admission tickets in the 3,600-seat north end to stake out their preferred vantage point for today's MLS Cup between the Timbers and New York City FC. (ABC)
3. Oregon state officials will soon be removing the local nonprofits who have processed a majority of the $170 million in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program sent to landlords over the past seven months from processing any more applications. Since May, when the state program opened up, those local action agencies have bemoaned glitchy state software called Allita 360 for the backlog of applications, many whose intended recipients have lost their 60 or 90 days safe harbor from eviction because the money didn’t arrive in time. (Willamette Week)
4. Good news for all of the skiers out there, an anticipated snowstorm may allow Mount Hood ski resorts to open. “Storm's coming in like a lion. We've got four or five inches since about 5 a.m. It's coming down hard,” said John Burton, director of marketing and public relations at Timberline. Burton is meeting several times a day to make that determination of when the mountain will be open for skiers and snowboarders. Today could be tough with heavy snow and strong winds. (KPTV)
5. In the last 20 to 30 years, shad populations in the Columbia River have soared while salmon populations dropped significantly. This contrast between one fish species thriving and another suffering led the Northwest Power and Conservation Council to wonder if shad were contributing to the fall of the salmon. The council says non-native shad are now the predominant ocean-migrating fish of the Columbia River Basin, with its numbers dwarfing those of native steelhead and salmon. (KOIN)

Today in Portland:

• It's not easy scoring tickets to a Timbers game, even when it's not the MLS Cup, and watching the game at home alone isn't that much fun. That's why you may want to head to The Golden Cat Beer Venue in SE Portland for its Timbers Watch Party. The game will be on 3 big projector screens and on 12 TVs in a MASSIVE 9,000-square-foot event space. Meet and hang with brewmaster Larry and discuss the 7 Pono Brewing beers on tap. Food vendors will be on site. 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
• Do you like beer? Do you like dogs? Do you like Santa? Combine all three at Rogue Eastside Pub and Pilot Brewery in SE Portland as the local non-profit Project POOCH shares some holiday cheer. Come on down to meet Santa, play some games, and have a pint or a bite to support Project POOCH! Photos with Santa will be available for a suggested donation, and any donation made to POOCH through the Willamette Week Give! Noon - 4:00 PM.
• Join Spirited Justice for a FREE showing of ALL episodes of Colin in Black and White at The Merchant Hotel in NW Portland. It will provide a variety of snacks and drinks, and each person is welcome to bring what might make them feel comfortable during the showing. This is a free event, but online registration is required. 7:00 - 10:00 PM.
• Join 3 PDX-based Alternative Rock greats - Obscurley and Left on Tenth and a special guest Smoochez performing live at Eastside Bar and Grill. Food and a full bar will be available throughout the show. Tickets available online. 8:00 - 10:00 PM.
• If laughs are what you're looking for, check out Sorry Not Sorry at Leikam Brewing on East Burnside. Featuring Kirsten Kuppenbender (Bridgetown Comedy Festival, All Jane Festival, host Hump! Film Festival), Barbara Holm (It’s Gonna Be Ok show) and Marla Massie (Sixth City Comedy Festival). The laughs start at 8:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Official @desmith4 Appreciation Post!" (Instagram)
• Travel Portland: "To all the visiting @NYCFC fans: welcome to Portland! While we're rooting against you on the pitch, we want you to have an awesome time in our city. If you need any recommendations or have any questions, please don't hesitate to DM us. W..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Join us for our next virtual Nature Night on Tuesday, December 15 at 7 p.m. for an evening covering the topic of "Finding Hope in Conservation History." In the late 19th century when humans realized that our rapidly industrializing and ..." (Instagram)
• Oregon Historical Society: "Last Friday OHS opened a new exhibit, "Freeze the Day! A History of Winter Sports in Oregon." And, the story of Oregon’s winter wonderland could not be told without the many outerwear companies that have grown to prominence in the Pacifi..." (Facebook)
• You may be doing pretty well financially, but are you rich? New data analysis by Go Banking Rates shows how much you need to make to be considered rich in 50 U.S. cities. The site used U.S. Census Bureau income data to determine the salary a household needs to earn to be in the city’s top 20% of earners – what they define as “rich.” How much does a Portland resident need to make to be considered rich? Follow the link to find out. (KOIN)
• The pandemic cancelled many Portland traditions last year, but we finally seem to be getting back to normal. One sign of this? The return of the Tuba Christmas Concert in Pioneer Square. "They're kind of a strange crew. They're kind of addicted and dedicated to the instrument. It's just fun," concert conductor Chuck Voltan said. This will be the 30th annual performance and it's taking place at 1:30 PM today. (YouTube)
• Cosmo the talking crow paid a visit to Allen Dale Elementary School last month and decided that it liked it there. “This crow showed up at our school just out of the blue one morning,” said Naomi Imel, an education assistant at Allen Dale, over the phone on Thursday. And, she added, it spoke. The bird could say, “What’s up?” and “I’m fine” and “a lot of swear words.” The question remains, are birds real? (The Oregonian)

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Have a great weekend, everyone. Whether you're cheering the Timbers on, doing holiday shopping or just kicking back, may this weekend be your happy time. I've got my own weekend plans, but, make no mistake, I'll be right back here next week to tell you more news of Portland.

— 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.