🌱 Nick Kristof For Gov. + Christmas Tree Shortage + I-205 Toll

Hello to all you fine folks in Portland and Happy Friday! This is the greatest of all the weekdays, so I won't dawdle and get right into talking about today.

First, today's weather:

A rainy morning gives way to a little bit of afternoon sun and a high of 55.

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. Nick Kristof, a former New York Times columnist and native Oregonian, has officially announced his gubernatorial run. Kristof, the son of a refugee who settled in Oregon in 1952, lives on the farm in Yamhill where he grew up. He won't be the only Democrat seeking the seat. House Speaker Tina Kotek and State Treasurer Tobias Read have also said they want to run. On the Republican side, Stan Pulliam, the mayor of Sandy, is also running. (Patch)
2. Checking back into the COVID-19 pandemic, things do seem to be going better, but there's also still cause for concern. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 1,360 new COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths from the virus Wednesday. What is very concerning is how full Oregon hospitals seem to be. Oregon has 45 available adult ICU beds out of 692 total (7% availability) and 247 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,144 (6% availability). (KGW)
3. Having a Merry Christmas will be a little bit harder this year. We still have pandemic restrictions in place and supply chain problems are making it harder to buy presents. In addition to these woes, there may be a Christmas tree shortage due to the record breaking heat we experienced this summer. Chuck White of White Christmas Tree Farm and Nursery in Silverton says about 30-40% of its trees might be too burnt to sell this year, unless customers are flexible. (KPTV)
4. Next month, the Portland City Council will likely vote to approve funding for a citywide expansion of Portland Street Response. But beyond a geographic buildout, the program is seeking another type of growth: the ability to respond to suicide calls. One problem with implementing this expansion is the Portland Police Association. The city and PPA reached a deal last summer that said the union retains bargaining rights over Portland Street Response’s expansion. (Willamette Week)
5. Portland seems to be obsessed with tolling drivers of late. Transportation officials met Wednesday night to discuss plans for the potential tolling of Interstate 205 in the Portland metro. The tolls would be an entirely electronic system that would automatically collect tolls traveling across either bridge. (KOIN)

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Today in Portland:

• There's a Halloween Dance Party & Costume Contest at Sinnott's Lil Cooperstown in NE Portland tonight. Costume contest winner will be announced at 9 pm! Gift certificates for top 3 winners! The party goes from 7:00 PM to midnight.
• For a sober and contemplative evening of discussion, visit Nalu Kava Tea House for Talk Story - Let's Talk About Death. This will be its first gathering as it dives into the perspectives, beliefs, opinions, experiences, hopes, and fears surrounding Death. The rooftop patio will allow for social distancing with warm heaters, but still have a cozy jacket or blanket to be comfortable. Space is limited, so please contact the facility to reserve your spot. 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
• Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project is celebrating 30 years of defending Eastern Oregon forests. Please join organizers on the shore of the Willamette River at Green Anchors in St. Johns for an outdoor celebration. There will be a forest-themed costume contest, an auction and raffle, and a presentation by Karen Coulter, BMBP director. This is an outdoor event, please dress accordingly. The festivities begin at 6:00 PM.
• Hawthorne Hideaway in SE Portland will be having a Monsterama Party. There will be performances by Dead at Midnight, Hideous Monster, Obscurley and Godzukey. Costumes are encouraged. Show starts at 8:30 PM.
• Check out Pandyfest PDX for a backyard, NE Portland house show. Performing tonight will be the Johnny Franco Band, the Mike Coykendall Band and Bright Raven. Text 503-545-0016 for tickets and info. This is a BYO event. 5:00 - 11:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Trail Blazers: "It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish." (Instagram)
• Portland Trail Blazers: "as smooth as Tennessee whiskey" (Instagram)
• Portland, Oregon: "New murals going up! Portland is home to some incredible murals and street art, which is a reflection of the amazing artists that call this city home. Thank you to the artists for sharing your talents: @tekpatl_art @heysus94 ..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "One would assume that after a fall spent harvesting acorns and stockpiling them in their “granary” (storage tree), that an Acorn Woodpecker could rest easy during the winter. But no such luck! Because after an acorn is tucked away in a h..." (Instagram)
• If you're looking to get into the season with some Portland-area spooky activities, I assure you that Portland does not disappoint. Here's our good friends at the Oregonian with a few suggestions of things to do over the weekend. (The Oregonian)
• Kelly's Olympian in downtown Portland will be hosting a 2-day Dark Arts Festival. That includes dark folk music, dark comedy and dark artwork. Brought to you by Forgotten Fantasies. Embrace the season! (Dark Arts Fest)
• While we do live in an urban environment, this is Oregon, so the wild is never too far away. There have been more coyote sightings around town, so be careful for your outdoor pets. Not this cat, however, because this fearless feline chased the intruder right out of her territory. (YouTube)
• Perhaps sitting in front of the TV with a big bowl of popcorn is more your vibe tonight. There's tons of scary movies out there, but for a uniquely Portland experience, why not watch a few episodes of Grimm. Filmed and set in Portland, it follows Det. Nick Burkhardt as he deals with the inhuman monsters that inhabit the City of Roses. The show is celebrating it's 10th anniversary, so celebrate and catch up on the gang. (TV Insider)

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Did I tell you everything? Who can say? Friday in Portland is nothing to sneeze at and that's the norm. Throw Halloween into the mix and all bets are off. Have fun people, but meet me back here tomorrow, because I'm sure I'll have a whole bunch of new stuff to tell you about. If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors along for the ride. 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? Reach out anytime to portland@patch.com.