🌱 Rose Festival Back On + New Micro Village In NE Portland

How are you today, Portland? Fine and dandy, I hope. We're halfway through the week already and we're not slowing down, so let me tell you about today's news.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy skies with a high of 57. That's practically sweltering!

Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. Portland city employees in 6 labor unions began voting Monday whether to authorize a strike after their contract negotiations reached an impasse in recent days. The biggest impacts from a strike would be to bureaus that handle Portland’s water, transportation, development services, policing and finances. It would also have ripple effects on all aspects of city life if more than 1,100 city workers are out on the picket line. (KOIN.com)
2. After two years without the Portland Rose Festival’s traditional downtown parades, waterfront fair and other big events, which were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, good news arrives in the name of the springtime festival’s 2022 collector’s edition rose bush: ‘Rosy Reunion.’ The rose’s upbeat name celebrates the planned return of the 115-year-old festival’s series of events. (OregonLive)
3. As the Omicron variant continues to sweep across Oregon, businesses are experiencing outbreaks forcing them to close for an extended period. Unlike the beginning of the pandemic, the state has not imposed any restrictions on the public. Now, it is leaving it up to businesses to make the call on staying open or not. In most cases businesses are forced to close. (KPTV.com)
4. A new micro-village to help house people experiencing homelessness is expected to open in Northeast Portland in March. We Shine PDX said the village is hoping to serve about 10 to 12 people with an 8-foot-by-8-foot pod, showers, restrooms, and other amenities, like a community garden. We Shine PDX is looking to open two more micro-villages this year. (KATU)
5. If you've been considering an electric vehicle in your future, Oregon wants to make getting it easier. Oregon is now offering up to $7,500 in cash rebates for low- and moderate-income households that buy new or used electric vehicles. The state recently doubled the rebate in one of its clean vehicle programs to make it among the largest electric vehicle incentives in the country. It’s one of three rebate programs in the country that allow residents to get money back for purchasing a used electric vehicle, said DEQ Senior Air Quality Advisor Rachel Sakata. (OPB)

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Today in Portland:

• If you're in a literary mood this evening, check out Incite: Queer Writers Read, a curated, bimonthly reading series for queer writers. Incite’s hope is to create conversation, connection, and greater understanding both within the queer community and with other communities. Hosted by Vinnie Kinsella and Jennifer Perrine. The theme for January is “Volume.” Register for this event in advance. 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
• Want something fun that is social and active? Why not square dancing? The Meet-Up group Free Taste of Square Dancing wants to give you (you guessed it!) a free taste of square dancing. If you're interested but haven't come out to dance with this group yet, this is a great way to dip a toe in the water and see if it's something you want to pursue. If you're a longtime dancer and just want to dance more, they always need angels to help the newcomers get the rhythm. This takes place at the Bridgeport Church of Christ in NE Portland. Proof of vaccination required. 7:00 - 8:30 PM.
• If you're a Portland resident who's concerned about the Updated Crowd Control/Use of Force Standards, you may be interested in this online presentation by the ACLU. It will start with a discussion of current Oregon law. Afterwards will be a brainstorming session regarding upcoming meeting topics. 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
• Portland Music Month continues with The Unlikely Candidates performing at the Doug Fir Lounge on East Burnside. Based out of Fort Worth, Texas, The Unlikely Candidates are an indie rock band initially formed as an acoustic duo by childhood friends Kyle Morris and Cole Male in 2008. Get your tickets online. 9:00 - 11:59 PM.
• Check out Local Roots Live at the White Eagle in North Portland. Tonight features The Gibbons and New Victorian. The Gibbons are an all original, stripped down, blues influenced rock n' roll band and New Victorian is the ethereal, small-rock project from Portlander Scott Taylor. Tickets are available online. Doors open at 8:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "We're pretty proud of our street murals here in Portland. Hit the link in our bio for our guide to finding some of the best murals around town. #ThisIsPortland (Special Note: You can find this one at 7608 N Interstate Ave) 📷: @jennkpo..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "We are kicking off 2022 with exciting news! In early January we will complete a land acquisition that will double the size of our Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary near Yachats, Oregon, allowing us to continue restoring these beautiful parcels of..." (Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "Queen Nefertari's Egypt closes Sunday, January 16th. It's been an incredible run and we've loved that so many visitors have been able to experience this fascinating and beautiful exhibition. The last opportunities to see it are Wed...." (Instagram)
• One of the region’s busiest search and rescue organizations is looking for new recruits. Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue is a primary resource for Hood River County and works with a number of other agencies in Oregon and Washington. No experience is necessary, but a love for the outdoors and a desire to help the community are required. (KATU)
• How would feel about talking with some strangers? Skip the Small Talk is an event that's like speed dating, but without the speed and without the dating. It was developed with psychological methods meant to make people feel less lonely. If this sounds interesting to you, one of these events is happening on Jan. 27th at Smith Teamaker in SE Portland. Tickets are available online. (Skip the Small Talk)
• The YouTube channel Backpacking with my Lens has posted a video on 4 must-visit waterfalls near Portland. These waterfalls are a few miles away from Portland and can be easily reached via car or bus. If you don't have a personal vehicle or permit to drive, you can book a day tour on Viator. (YouTube)

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I hope you feel more informed and up to date. I love Portland and I love being able to share it with others, so thank you for reading. And if you like it, come on back tomorrow and I'll talk your ear off about this fine 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.