🌱 Elementary School Cancels Pride Parade + 75th Anniversary Of Flood

Hey, friends! I'm back with your fresh copy of the Portland Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town today, including:

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High: 81 Low: 55.
• Sunday: Mainly cloudy. High: 74 Low: 51.

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Here are the top three stories today in Portland:

1. Atkinson Elementary School in Southeast Portland canceled its Pride festival after conservatives on social media circulated word of the event, causing administrative concerns. Many administrators were worried about a possible protest during the event after the school's phone lines were clogged with calls and a window was broken. The Portland School District worked with the police to monitor the situation in case of an escalation. (Willamette Week)
2. May marks the 75th year since the Vanport flood in North Portland when the Columbia River pushed into the city, wiping out the community. The flood occurred on Memorial Day in 1948 after a railroad dike failed. The flood killed at least 15 people and caused 18,000 people to lose their homes. (KGW 8)
3. Since the start of the pandemic, Portland has become one of the fastest-shrinking cities, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. From July 2020 to July 2022, Portland suffered a population loss of 2.8 percent. The city lost more than 18,200 residents making it the sixth fastest-shrinking U.S. city. (Oregon Live)

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Today and tomorrow in Portland:

Saturday, May 20

• PSU Farmers Market At 1717 SW Park Ave. (8:30 AM)
• Community Garden Volunteer Day At Native American Youth And Family Center (10:00 AM)
• Forest Therapy At Portland Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (10:00 AM)

Sunday, May 21

• Market Music: MarimbaLab At King Market (11:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Join the Nonprofit Association of Oregon and local funders on May 23 for a free workshop. In the workshop, guests will learn about valuable tools and resources designed specifically for nonprofits. (Nonprofit Association of Oregon FaceBook)
• Want to see what the Portland Art Museum has in store? Today, May 20, the museum will offer free admission in celebration of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. (Portland Art Museum Instagram)
• Planning on visiting the Lowrider Super Show at the Portland Expo Center? You can check out the most outstanding display of custom builds on Jun. 25. (Portland Expo Center FaceBook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.