🍓Strawberry season has arrived

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026 · ISSUE NO. 3

📜 THIS WEEK IN OREGON HISTORY

May 7, 1934 - The Mail Tribune in Medford became the first Oregon newspaper to win a Pulitzer Prize. Sadly, the paper followed the path of many others around the state and shuttered operations on January 13, 2023.

Turns out the story taking the world by storm has a very Oregon connection. Stephen Kornfeld, an Oncologist from Bend, was aboard the five-week-long bird-watching cruise and quickly found himself in the middle of the action when the ship’s doctor fell ill. I recommend reading the whole story on how quickly the situation aboard the cruise escalated. (More)

The world’s richest person made a visit to the Portland area to tour the Intel campus. Musk tweeted that it was an honor to tour the facility, and he looks forward to their partnership with SpaceX and Tesla. (More)

Not all came up roses for the WNBA’s return to the Rose City as the Fire lost their inaugural game to the Chicago Sky over the weekend. They certainly weren’t lacking for support, though, as the Moda Center was completely sold out for the game. (More)

Here’s an only in Oregon story for you. The primaries are right around the corner, and a new contender for Governor has emerged. Pencil, yes, a literal pencil, has taken to the streets, encouraging voters to write them in. Pencil says they are not affiliated with either major party and want to spread awareness of Oregon students’ low reading scores. (More)

Landslides back in December have led to travel headaches along Highway 101 near Neskowin for months, but relief is finally here! The highway has fully reopened just in time for the summer travel season to kick into high gear. (More)

Feeling like you’re missing out in Oregon by only getting electric rate increases once a year? Well then, this is your lucky year (🙄)! Pacific Power has requested an interim rate increase due to financial problems. This is the first time since the early 2000’s that the company has taken this step. (More)

Donkeys must be all the rage these days, as an Oregon City donkey sanctuary has a wait list through the end of the year to visit. The Oregon Donkey Sanctuary is home to 24 donkeys and offers limited weekend visits. So limited in fact that every spot has been booked, and they have a waitlist of more than 100 volunteers. Who knew 🤷 (More)

Ever dreamed of reenacting your own Lewis and Clark expedition by attempting to raft down the Columbia (I’m still traumatized at how many oxen I lost attempting to ford the river while playing The Oregon Trail)? One Portland man lived out that dream, albeit with slightly more modern gear, as he kayaked from Portland to Astoria over the course of four days. (More)

It’s a good thing we’ve got a bit of time to mentally prepare for this one, as it’s gonna be a doozy. ODOT will be shutting down all southbound lanes along a two-mile stretch of I-5 for two full weeks beginning on September 11th. Prepare for some gnarly traffic as the effects of this closure are sure to ripple across the city. (More)

What is the largest state park in Oregon?

Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter

Rhody Days

Spring is here, and so are Rhody Days in Florence. This weekend-long event includes a grand floral parade, carnival, classic car show, and a Rhody Run/Walk (choose from a 5k or 10k distance).

UFO Festival

76 years ago, McMinnville was struck with UFO fever when a local couple spotted a flying disc in the area. Today, you can celebrate all things extraterrestrial at the annual UFO festiva,l which features a street fair, speakers, live music, and plenty more 👽

Portland Sunday Parkways

Bikes are taking over the streets in SW Portland as the 2026 Sunday Parkways season kicks off. These events offer up an opportunity for folks to enjoy a car-free, 2-mile bike route. The tour will take you by Gabriel Park, Village Park, Multnomah Arts Center, Multnomah Village, and Spring Garden Park.

Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival

Come take in the fun at one of the longest-standing whitewater events in the nation. The Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival has plenty of opportunities to enjoy the festivities on the water or watching from the shore as folks do their best to paddle kayaks, paddle boards, and maybe even a floating unicorn or two, down the river.

Lamb & Wool Fair

Celebrate all things lambs and wool with the annual Linn County Lamb & Wool Fair in Scio. Over the weekend, you can take in the fleece sale, pet show, quilt show, parade, tractor show, and plenty more. While you’re in the area, be sure to check out the numerous covered bridges that dot this part of Oregon.

Detroit Lake Fishing Derby

Detroit Lake is full and ready for summer. Kick off a season on the water by trying your hand at reeling in a lunker with the Detroit Lake Fishing Derby. You may just walk away with the grand prize of a brand new boat.

Pink! Rosé Festival

Pink is in at the Rosé festival at the Hillsboro Ballpark. Here you can taste from a selection of over 50 Tualatin Valley wines from 28 different wineries.

There are a lot of seasons to look forward to in Oregon, Whale watching, mushrooms, skiing, patio, and on and on, but my favorite just might be the annual arrival of strawberry season. After spending the winter suffering through flavorless berries from the grocery store, the arrival of these local delights are an absolute treat.

With our recent warm winter (and spring), strawberry season has had an early start and the farmers markets are already chock full of these delicious berries. Many berry farms now grow a mix of varieties that range from early to late season so you can keep enjoying them throughout the summer but all Oregonians know that the absolute best variety is the Hood strawberry.

These berries are typically smaller in size and incredibly delicate but they offer up one of the sweetest bites you’ll ever taste.