Record Breaking Heat, Again+Recall Efforts+Armed Guards Downtown

Hello, people of Portland! Welcome to a very special Friday the 13th. Why is it special? Because it's the only Friday the 13th we'll have in 2021. How's that for special! Now I'm going to jump right in, because we've got one Jason Voorhees of a day.

First, today's weather: Today is cooler than yesterday, but not by much. Mostly sunny skies will leave us with a high temp of 102. Whew!

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. It's no news that the weather is hot, but Wednesday's high temp of 102 broke a record made back in 1977. And more is on the way, with triple digit temperatures predicted for today and then "cooler" weather over the weekend in the 90's. Where is the rain we're supposed to be famous for? (KATU)
2. The effort to recall Mayor Ted Wheeler has not been going well. Total Recall PDX, the organization behind this effort, announced on Wednesday that they had gathered only 5,926 signatures. In order to get the recall on the ballot, they need over 40,000 more by October 6th. (OPB)
3. The dramatic increase in gun violence in Portland has changed the face of the city and the entertainment district in Old Town-Chinatown has not been immune to the changes. Desperate to stay open, clubs in that district are hiring private security firms and using armed, ex-military to patrol the streets. (Willamette Week)
4. There's been a lot of debate around the Portland Street Response, regarding whether to expand to program or not. But the Multnomah County 27/7 mental health crisis line has been serving a similar purpose for years. With operators on duty 24 hours a day, they can dispatch service providers from organizations like Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare's Project Respond. (KGW)
5. Don't forget your masks! The Multnomah County indoor mask mandate goes into effect today. To further safeguard the state, Gov. Kate Brown has also mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for all executive branch employees with the state of Oregon on or before Oct. 18. Not all employees are happy about that, but KOIN 6 news took some time to speak with Dr. Anne Loeffler, the deputy health officer for Multnomah County, about the safety of the vaccine. (KOIN)

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Today in Portland

• Local rockers the Spoon Benders will be playing at SE Portland spot Bunk Sandwiches. This show is vaxx only (or a recent negative COVID test)! And, as per Multnomah County rules, bring a mask. 9:00 - 11:59 PM.
• Proto-metal masters Glitter Wizard will be at North Portland music venue Mississippi Studios tonight. They'll be joined by Soul Grinder and Young Hunter. There is very limited seating, mostly standing. This is a 21+ show, proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required. A complete list of their safety policies are on the Mississippi Studios website. Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM.
• Neo-classical jazz-fusion group Silent Temple takes the stage at Riverhouse Studio in NE Portland, with psych-folk travelers Flying Caravan to open. Silent Temple be doing a live performance of their 4th studio album, Marvelers of Creation, that was recorded and mixed at Riverhouse Studio. 5:00 - 8:30 PM.
• Want to celebrate Friday the 13th in style? Then get out the costume you didn't get to wear last year or prepare this years' early because it's Halloween on bikes! For this edition of the Friday Night Ride they've got multiple sound-systems coming to blow this thing up! The Friday Night Ride meets at Ladd's Addition, bikes around for a while and then heads to Laurelhurst Park around 11:30pm to join up with Midnight Mystery Ride. The meet up is at 7:00 PM.
• Hammond organ master Louis "King Louie" Pain & Renato Caranto, plus the swinging Michael Raynor on drums, are excited to play SE Portland venue Studio One Theaters! This space is a perfect fit for them, since the "4K Multi-Media Stage" feels like any great jazz lounge--only cooler--and the food and drink are off the chain. And there's easy parking and no cover charge. How can you beat that? 6:30 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Summer League Game 2 Highlights" (Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "On the latest episode of Art Unbound, @thenumberzfm presents an interview with @marceaumichel (@djpassports) and Emma..." (Instagram)
• For you rock hounds out there, the Mt. Hood Rock Club Rock & Gem show kicks off today at the Jackson Armory, near the Portland International Airport. Admission and on-site parking are free and they'll have rock + gem vendors, demonstrations, educational exhibits, raffle, kids' activities, and a silent auction. Great for families and rock enthusiasts of all ages! Starts today and goes through the weekend.
• PDX Pipeline is giving away a pair of tickets to Shannon and the Clams at downtown Portland venue the Crystal Ballroom on September 4. To win, visit their website and tell them why you'd like to attend. Winner will be drawn and emailed Monday, August 30. (PDX Pipeline)
• KATU has teamed up with the Portland Rescue Mission for their Safe at Last Telethon to help homeless women in our community get a new start in life. Shepherd’s Door is Portland Rescue Mission’s 12-month residential program for women and children transitioning out of homelessness. Just $24 a month is life changing, providing safety, shelter, and the first step to a second chance of life for women and children who are in dire need. For more information about Shepherd’s Door, visit portlandrescuemission.org/women-children. Donate online at katu.com/donate.
• The city of Portland gave an official statement addressing last weekend's altercations. You can read that statement here.
• Lastly, if you have a dog, do NOT bring them near the Willamette River. It's super hot and dogs love water for cooling down in, but a toxic algae bloom is making the water dangerous for dogs. Lab results from samples show toxin levels that are currently too low to affect humans, but can be very harmful to pets - especially dogs. Cyanotoxins are created by the algae blooms and can be lethal to dogs within hours of ingestion. (Multcopets)

Fridays are always pretty busy, but, wow, this one is a doozy! So, stay frosty people, because it's hot out there and I want to see you all back for tomorrow so we can do it all again. 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? You can email me at portland@patch.com.