February 23, 2016

This morning, Rachel Rafanelli from KGW joined Nick at his home to test his water for lead.

In Portland, we are fortunate to have some of the best drinking water in the world, thanks to the Bull Run Watershed. Because it’s so high in quality, we only have to minimally treat our water. 

The main source of lead in our water comes from household plumbing. Lead solder was commonly used in homes built or plumbed with copper pipes between 1970 to 1985.

The Water Bureau provides free lead-in-water test kits that are available to all customers, which are tested in the Bureau’s Water Quality Laboratory. The Bureau also has a great, simple resource guide to help reduce lead exposure in your home.

Contact the LeadLine for a free lead-in-water test at (503) 988.4000 or order one online. And check out the Water Bureau’s website for easy steps to decrease lead exposure.

City of Portland: our drinking water is safe

Rachel Rafanelli in KGW News

Portland offers free water testing for lead

KGW News

 February 24, 2016

This morning, Nick was proud to attend the Regional Art & Culture Council’s (RACC) 2016 Arts Breakfast of Champions. It was a great event, with many exciting performances, including a lively and inspiring pop-up show by the Portland Opera.

Nick was honored to present Greg Ness, the President and CEO of The Standard, with the John C. Hampton Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts. On top of being a leader of a Fortune 1000 company, headquartered in Portland, Greg, and the company he leads, are champions for art and culture in our community.

Nick serves as Council liaison to the RACC. It’s a wonderful local organization, committed to funding diverse and accessible art programs that reach all people in our community.

Special thanks to the RACC team for a wonderful event, and to the Kelly Creek Elementary School African drummers and the high school student jazz band, called the Builders, who performed very well.

Check out RACC’s website for more information.

February 25, 2016

Portland’s legendary Jazz Festival is back and better than ever!

The festival is a celebration of America’s great, indigenous music and Black History Month. It’s a wonderful jamboree of talented musicians who play concerts around the city for about two weeks every February.

The festival also reaches out to our community by providing jazz education and outreach programs in Portland’s schools and community centers.

2016’s festival runs through February 28. Check out the Portland Jazz Festival’s website for a schedule and locations.

February 25, 2016

Last weekend, Nick watched the film “50 Feet from Syria”, which was featured at the Portland Film Festival.

The powerful documentary chronicles Dr. Hisham Bismar, an Orthopedic Surgeon from Portland, who regularly travels to the Turkish-Syrian border to treat victims of the Syria civil war.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award, and is the latest project of Skye Fitzgerald, a family friend who lives in Portland.

Dr. Bismar was born in Syria and immigrated to this country when he was 18. He now works at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center. 

Some of the most extreme voices in the immigration debate have called for a shameful blanket ban on Syrian refugees coming to this country.

Dr. Bismar is a shining example of why immigrants and refugees are an important part of our community.   

City of Portland: our drinking water is safe

Rachael Rafanelli in KGW News

Portland offers free water testing for lead

KGW News

Why arts tax information should be confidential (OPINION)
Thomas Lannom in The Oregonian

Here’s What A City-County Homelessness Office Could Look Like

Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury

Hall Monitor: Moving Is the Worst

Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury

Portland City Council approves moving R2DToo

KOIN 6 News Staff

It’s Official: R2DToo Is Moving Across the River (Barring Appeal)
Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury

City Council Oks Right 2 Dream Too’s move to Central Eastside

Brad Schmidt in The Oregonian

Council approves moving controversial R2DToo homeless camp to inner Southeast Portland

Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune