Plus, Olympic skaters, fireworks, and rose garden volunteering. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Friday, May 22 

Your Daily Guide

Good morning, Portland! If you’re sticking in town this Memorial Day weekend, you have the chance to catch some Olympic skaters as they take to the ice in Portland ⛸️— or celebrate the unofficial start to summer with the fireworks that kick off the Rose Festival 🎆

Speaking of roses, today (and on other Fridays) Peninsula Park Rose Garden has volunteer opportunities to “deadhead the roses,” in the lingo of our rose enthusiasts: meaning, lop off the dead blossoms 🌹

Also, you can stop by Portland’s wish tree and string up your wish. More ideas for the holiday weekend ⏬

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What Portland's Talking About

Oregon Healthcare for All by 2028?

A scholar of healthcare finance who helped set up Taiwan's system of universal healthcare is working on a plan that could bring single-payer healthcare to the ballot in 2028. The state Legislature officially launched the effort to come up with a proposal, with a detailed revenue plan due by September. Professor Chunhuei Chi thinks his proposal will help deliver better healthcare to everyone. [Willamette Week]

Providence To End Its Health Insurance Business

About 1 in 10 Oregonians receive health insurance through Providence, which will end nearly all of its insurance business by the end of the year. Providence was unable to find a buyer, with the exception of its Medicare Advantage plans — popular private options that provide extra benefits on top of standard Medicare. Providence will also transfer its Medicaid plans to another provider. [OPB]

PODCAST

City Budget Amendment Drama, Trump’s Impact on the Governor’s Race, and Opera Meets Women's Soccer

Portland Opera at the Cherry Bombs’ Soccer Games

Portland’s newest preprofessional team adds to the city’s already abundant women’s sports offerings: The Cherry Bombs have begun their season out at Lents Park. And Portland Opera singers will be there, performing soccer chants with some traditional opera mixed in. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Where Is It?

A rusty colored serpent sculpture.

A sea creature gets a warm welcome. (Bird Ehrhardt / reader submission)

A new sculpture appeared in the St. Johns neighborhood recently.

“Free Willie! N. Burlington & N. Willamette. Steel Sculpture of a Sea Serpent. Non-permitted install by unsigned artist — in Cathedral Park,” writes reader Phil Hochstetler.

“I heard that it is an ‘unofficial’ installation as it just appeared one day 🤷‍♀️” writes reader Donna M.

I heard a rumor it’s by an artist collective that uses the area under a bridge for a studio?” writes reader Raeann.

“It has spent years in separate pieces down at Green Anchors; a tail here, the head over there in the permaculture garden, the body loop over by a welder’s shop,” writes reader Angela D. “It’s SO cool to see it in a single installation right down the road from our house on the street for all to enjoy.”‘

“It rules,” writes reader Neveen.

A shoutout to those readers as well as to Heather, Nicole W., Annalisa, Ann C., Pat, and Brenda F. for also identifying the location.

This week’s scavenger hunt comes from reader Michelle M. Mathews:

Abstract waves of color with a yellow and pink sun.

A bright display. (Michelle M. Mathews / reader submission)

Where is this mural?

Please click here to submit the location — and, for unofficial bonus points, anything you know about it.

If you’re new to the newsletter, there’s a scavenger hunt every Friday. In next week’s newsletter, I’ll reveal the answer and shout out the first 10 readers who respond correctly.

Where Is It?

📸 Want to submit a photo? Please email me a snapshot of somewhere in the Portland metro area, and we’ll consider it for an upcoming “Where Is It?” segment!

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What To Do

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  • 🎟️ Sellwood Garden Tour | May 31 | Eastmoreland Gardens, located at 2425 SE Bybee Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

Friday, May 22

Saturday, May 23

Sunday, May 24

More Portland Events

🍴 Tasty options: The Portland Mercury has some picks for delicious, and relatively new spots — in honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:

One correction before I go: I misstated what 56% of Multnomah County voters think of our governor yesterday. That’s the percent who disapprove. Apologies for that typo, amid a point on how unpopular Gov. Tina Kotek is.

See you on Tuesday — after the long weekend!

— Rachel Monahan

Thanks to John Notarianni and Giulia Fiaoni for editing this week.

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