COVID Variant+Managed Villages+Vets Miss Out

It’s the start of Memorial Day weekend, so put on your sun screen and fire up that grill. It’s time for some fun!

Weather

Today will start with cloudy skies that will clear up in the afternoon and a high temperature of 81. Yikes, is summer already here?

Top news stories for Portland

• County commissioners and state lawmakers came together for an online town hall to discuss Portland’s homelessness problem. One proposed idea is the creation of “managed villages” where people could camp and have access to hygiene services and garbage collection. The idea was bolstered by $20 million from the American Rescue Plan. (KOIN 6 News)

• More states are using lotteries to convince people to get vaccinated, but veterans may not get their chance here in Oregon. Those vaccinated through the Veterans Administration Portland Healthcare System, roughly 28,000 individuals, did not get their information transferred to the Oregon Health Association (OHA), the organization in charge of the vaccination lottery. (KGW)
• Do you know of a place in Southeast Portland that needs a trashcan? The city wants to know. The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability plans to add over 180 new trash cans to sidewalks in the Southeast and they’re asking residents for their input. (Portland Maps)
• More COVID in the news, this time with reports of the coronavirus variant B.1.617.2, which has been ravaging India, has been detected in Oregon. A total of 6 cases have been seen across the state. Health experts say that, while this is a more transmissible variant, vaccines are still effective against it. (KATU)
• Lawmakers close a loophole in law designed to curb underage users of vaping products. House Bill 2261 blocks the online sale of all nicotine vaping devices and components. Now the bill awaits Gov. Kate Brown’s signature. (OPB)

Today’s events in Portland

• Today kicks off the 115th Multnomah County Fair, offering both in person and virtual events. Tickets are required and given their efforts to follow CDC safety regulations, space is limited. In person events are at the Oaks Park Dance Pavilion and begin at noon.
• Enjoy hearing about Portland history? As part of the Vanport Mosaic Festival, there will be a walking tour of the historic Albina district with an emphasis on the Black Panther Party Legacy. It starts at the Matt Dishman Center today at 10:30 AM. Get your tickets here.
• CBD seems to be all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise that hemp is rising in popularity. Today is the grand opening of Hemp Bar. Brought to you by East Fork Cultivars, they serve plant-based foods, non-alcoholic drinks and an array of hemp-based products. Gifts for the first 50 adults that arrive at Hemp Bar, so don’t wait. Plus, Caesar the No Drama Llama will be there from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. Registration is required.
• Average Annie is at Dante’s tonight. Don’t let the name fool you, these dancers are anything but average. They’ll rock you for an evening of unique entertainment. Tickets are required and capacity is limited, but there are also tickets for a virtual show. Show starts at 8:00 PM

Portland Patch Notebook

• Memorial Day weekend sees the return of a Portland tradition, The Rose Festival. There are both in-person and virtual events taking place all week long, including a return of the Porch Parade and a virtual Fleet Week. See the full list of festivities.
• Portland has an abundance of fruit trees and if you have some on your property, you should be aware of the Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP). They have a variety of programs and services, but starting in June, they work with volunteers to harvest excess fruit from the yards of Portland residents and donate it to several food banks that need it. Check them out!

Wow, there’s a lot of stuff going on! Have a fantastically fun weekend everyone and I’ll be back next week with more news about town.