Dave Knows Portland

Archives for October 2011

October 27, 1997: Oregon Death with Dignity Act Goes into Effect

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Though Oregon voters passed the Death With Dignity Act in November 1994, due to several years of legal wrangling the country’s first law permitting physician-assisted suicide did not go into effect until October 27, 1997.

Measure 51, which if passed would have repealed the law 51% of voters had passed in 1994, was on the ballot the very next week. It was rejected by 59.9% of the voters.

The first reported use of legal assisted suicide in Oregon occurred on March 24, 1998, when a woman in her 80s who had been fighting breast cancer for 20 years took a lethal dose of barbiturates washed down with a glass of brandy.

Tour of Untimely Departures at Lone Fir Cemetery 2011

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Tour of Untimely DeparturesThe Tour of Untimely Departures returns to Lone Fir Cemetery this Halloween night, October 31, 2011.

Meet some of Lone Fir’s “residents” at their graves and hear the unusual circumstances surrounding their untimely departures. Ghostly guides will also share some of the history on Lone Fir as they take you through the cemetery on a path lit with candles.

Two separate 45 minutes tours run throughout the evening, from 6pm to 9pm. No more than 2000 tickets will be sold, so buy your tickets now!

Visit the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery website for more details.

October 26, 1970: Tryon Creek Park is Formed

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The Oregonian article on Tryon Creek Park's creation (29 October 1970)Southwest Portland’s Tryon Creek Park, a 670 acre natural area maintained by Oregon State Parks and Friends of Tryon Creek, was created on October 26, 1970.

The Oregonian reported on October 29, 1970:

All hurdles have been cleared to develop . . . the Tryon Creek area as the Tryon Creek State Park, Gov. McCall’s office announced . . .

The announcement climaxes work that was begun in the early 1960s by citizens who wanted to preserve wilderness areas in the proximity of urban communities. The Tryon Creek area was such a wilderness.

Tryon Creek State Natural Area is the official name of the park. The only Oregon state park within a major metropolitan area, it encompasses Tryon Creek canyon, a second growth forest made up of red alder, Douglas fir, big leaf maple, and western red cedar. Tryon Creek is one of the last unobstructed tributaries of the Willamette River in the Portland area. The park has a Nature Center, trails, and a shelter.

PDX Freak Show 2011

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PDX Freak Show 2011The first annual PDX Freak Show, a Halloween costume party, takes place Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 1512 W Burnside.

The PDX Freak Show is an annual Halloween party to celebrate folks who work hard to make Portland a vibrant film community – the actors, directors, producers, sound, FX artists, composers, editors, gaffers, MUA, costumers – every single person who participates in the film industry on any level!

There will be a hotly contested Costume Contest of course, and an FX Contest too! Product sponsors include Widmer Brothers, New Deal Distillery, and Voodoo Doughtnuts.

In this, its inaugural year, 20% of the PDX Freak Show’s net proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Cancer Association. The annual event will select one charitable organization each year.

Tickets start at $15. For more details visit PDXFreakShow.com (where you will also find the rest of the video series) and the Facebook organization page.

Howloween and the Squishing of the Squash at the Oregon Zoo (2011)

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SquishOnce again the Oregon Zoo acknowledges the reason for the season (i.e. pumpkins) this Halloween weekend.

First up the Annual Squishing of the Squash takes place on Friday, October 28 2011 at 10:30am, in the elephant area. The elephants will get to take out their frustrations on a huge pumpkin. This event is free with your paid zoo admission.

And then Howloween at the Zoo takes place Saturday and Sunday October 29-30 2011, from 11am to 4pm.

Kids love trick-or-treating, and the Oregon Zoo provides a fun and safe setting for this Halloween tradition. Costumed trick-or-treaters can participate in an exciting scavenger hunt leading them to activity stations around the zoo. Goodie bags filled with candy and prizes will be given out for completed hunts at the zoo’s exit. Goodie bag treats provided by Endangered Species Chocolate, Nature Path Bars, Stretch Island Fruits, Lara Bar, Honest kids pouch drinks and Glee Gum. Free with zoo admission.

Howloween activities are also free with zoo admission. Visit the Oregon Zoo website for more information.