⛈️ A wetter fall ahead?

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026 · ISSUE NO. 17

📜 THIS WEEK IN OREGON HISTORY

August 14, 1848 - Congress passed the Act to Establish the Territorial Government of Oregon, officially creating the Oregon Territory. It was a sprawling territory, covering all of present-day Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, plus chunks of Montana and Wyoming. Here's the part most people don't know: the territorial governorship was first offered to some guy named Abraham Lincoln, who turned it down. Had he said yes and moved his family to Oregon, the entire course of American history might have looked very different.

A proposed ballot initiative could radically change how money makes its way into Oregon elections. The details are pretty nitty-gritty on constitutional law and the state reserve power clauses that have been around for over 200 years. So if that’s your thing, I recommend reading up on the whole process. (More)

The state released its fall seasonal climate forecast (they actually released it last month, but it just popped up on my radar) for August - October. The forecast looked at historical El Niños that tracked closely (so far) to this year’s. Big picture - warmer than normal temps in August and September, and a much wetter fall starting in mid-September. (More)

Storms last fall damaged the Tillamook Air Museum to the point where it had to shut down, and its future was in serious jeopardy. Recent funding from FEMA has things moving in the right direction, though, as cleanup of debris at the old hangar has begun. (More)

A homeowner in Cannon Beach is in a fight with the state. Sand is slowly burying the front of their $2.4m home, and the state has denied their request to remove it, saying that they have not shown proof “that sand accumulation has affected the function of the seawall”. (More)

A tourist visiting Silver Falls State Park passed away after entering a restricted area and falling from the 177-foot-tall South Falls. (More)

Two Portland goats attempted to hitch a ride aboard a TriMet bus in Portland. Their ride only lasted around 20 seconds as passengers shooed them off and called the cops. (More)

We’re only 2 ½ weeks away from Oregon kicking off their 2026/2027 college football season, and hopes are higher than ever. The Ducks will open the season as the #2 ranked team in the nation (their highest preseason ranking ever) behind only the Ohio State Buckeyes. (More)

The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville is home to the Spruce Goose, the largest wooden airplane ever built. How many times did this massive aircraft actually fly?

Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter

🎡 Clackamas County Fair

Think summer and fair season are finished? Think again, as the Clackamas County Fair still needs to do its thing. This one takes place in Canby and gets center stage in the fair calendar.

🎬 PDX Festival of Cinema, Animation, & Technology

OMSI comes alive for six days of films featuring the best in cinema, animation, and technology.

🌴 Oregon Aloha Festival

Hawaii is certainly on our mind this week after taking a direct hit from Tropical Storm Lala. This two-day festival in Eugene celebrates the vibrant traditions, music, dance, and storytelling of the Pacific Islands.

🚲 Portland MADE Bike Show

Come see the world’s most inspiring handmade bicycles, meet the builders shaping the future of cycling, and connect with the people who make this community special.

🇲🇽 Woodburn Fiesta Mexicana

The 62nd annual Fiesta Mexicana is back for another year of food, music, art, and cultural celebration.

🧑‍🎨 Silverton Arts Festival

Come browse the work from an amazing collection of artists from around the PNW at this end-of-summer art fest.

🍉 Melon Fest

Celebrate Oregon’s favorite melon, the Hermiston watermelon, at the annual melon fest in Hermiston (obviously). There will be kids’ activities, vendors, live music, a costume contest, bathtub races, and of course, free slices of Hermiston watermelon.

🪕 Pearl & Oyster Music Fest

Beat the heat and head to the coast for two days of free music in Bay City. Bands will be covering your favorite hits from years past on Saturday, and Sunday’s festivities will be for the kids.

For most folks, the only wasabi they’ve ever tried is the green blobs plopped next to their plate of sushi. But did you know that this is almost always a blend of horseradish and mustard that has been dyed green?

Want to try the real thing? Outside of Japan, Oregon is one of the best places to do so. Over the past 20 years, Oregon Coast Wasabi has grown into the largest wasabi farm in the United States. So that means that you can top your homemade sushi (it’s easier to make than you think) with this spicy accompaniment and know that it was grown right in your backyard (relatively speaking).

Turns out that the coast’s cool and humid environment provides the perfect growing conditions for wasabi. Want to try some for yourself? You can order some directly from the farm! They sell wasabi root for eating or plant starts so you can start growing your own.