🌱 Portland Queer Icon Dies At 92 + Wolverine Spotted Outside Portland

Hi all. I'm here with your Saturday edition of the Portland Patch newsletter, full of all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Rain and snow shower. High: 48 Low: 34.
• Sunday: A couple of showers. High: 46 Low: 31.

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Here are the top three stories in Portland today:

1. Portland queer icon Walter Cole, also known as Darcelle XV, passed away at the age of 92 this week. Cole was the world's oldest drag queen and opened his namesake drag club, the Darcelle XV Showplace, here in Portland in 1967. Cole's longtime friend Kevin Cook, also known as Poison Waters, said of the loss, "We ask for privacy and patience as everyone processes and grieves in their own way and at their own pace. (Portland Mercury)
2. A wolverine has reportedly been spotted by two people fishing along the Columbia River near Portland, which is the first time in 30 years that the animal has been spotted outside of the Wallowa Mountains in the state. According to wildlife officials, there is only one known wolverine in Oregon named Stormy, who inhabits the Wallowa Mountains, and spotting a wolverine is incredibly rare. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said that although it was thought that wolverines had been eradicated in the state since 1936, a wolverine was found hit by a car near Cascade Locks in 1990, which was the last sighting of them outside of the Wallowa Mountains until now. (OregonLive)
3. Portland received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's 2022 municipality equity index because the city was marked as having an active LGBTQ+ advisory council for the police force even though the council was disbanded in January of 2022. A spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign said that the city was given points for having an advisory council because the council's old webpage was accessible in May, but a spokeswoman for the police department said the council was placed "on hiatus" due to not having enough volunteer members. Members of the Portland LGBTQ+ community said that the council struggled to find volunteers as community members believed it wasn't effectively causing change. (Willamette Week)

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Today and tomorrow in Portland:

Saturday, March 25

• Portland Farmers Market At Shemanski Park (9:00 AM)
• Portland Saturday Market Drum Circle At Bill Naito Legacy Fountain (11:00 AM)
• Small Batch Trivia From Geeks Who Drink At Saint Pizza Lounge (8:00 PM)

Sunday, March 26

• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night At Loowit Brewing (7:00 PM)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night At The Twilight Room (7:00 PM)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night At Ecliptic Brewing - Moon Room (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for something fun to do this weekend in and around Portland? Check out this list of eight activities to do in the area, including Spring On The Farm at the Triskelee Farm. (KGW.com)
• Portland Parks & Recreation's Environmental Education is hiring for the upcoming Nature Day Camp this summer. Job positions are available to applicants 18 years or older for educator positions and 21 or older for support staff with a pay range of $17 to $22. Learn more about open positions and apply by clicking here. (Portland Parks & Recreation via Facebook)
• There will be 82 vendors today at the PSU Farmers Market! Check out the list of vendors at the link and come down to shop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Portland Farmers Market via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll be back in your inbox soon with 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.