Cascadia Daily, May 1, 2018

by Andrew Engelson

2018 Oregon Book Awards announced

Literary Arts presented the 2018 Oregon Book Awards last night, and Cascadia Magazine was thrilled to learn that Samiya Bashir was honored for her collection Field Theories. We were honored to publish three poems from that dazzling book, including “Second Law.”
“. . . Remember love?
How it loosed its jaw to our kisses?
How it unhinged us? How it tried us
like so many keys like so many rusted
locks?. . . ”
Read Samiya’s three poems in Cascadia Magazine from Field Theories here.

Other authors honored at the Oregon Book Awards gala were Patricia Bailey for children’s literature, Laini Taylor for young adult literature, Lee van der Voo for general nonfiction, and Nicole J. Georges for graphic literature. Omar El Akkad won the fiction prize for his stark bestseller about a future dystopia, American War. Visit the Literary Arts website for the complete list.

A subdued May Day in Cascadia

In contrast to last year’s noisy conflicts between anarchists and right-wing groups, this year’s May Day protests across Cascadia focused on immigration and worker’s rights were relatively subdued. A group of activists blockaded the Vancouver city council and forced its postponement, and marches were held in Seattle and Portland, but as of early evening about the only incident was a rock thrown at the spheres at Amazon’s world headquarters in Seattle..

Vancouver’s bold, expensive transit expansion

The Georgia Straight reports on Vancouver’s proposal to expand light rail lines to Broadway/UBC and Surrey at a cost of $7.3 billion. CBC has an interview with TransLink’s director, who says the weak Canadian dollar and rising construction costs have ballooned costs for the project. Meanwhile, a review found that Seattle’s $930 million transportation levy is under-delivering on its promises — mostly because of rising construction costs.

Spokane’s Teacher of the Year to school Trump

Lilly Fowler at Crosscut has an interview with Spokane high school teacher Mandy Manning, who was recently selected as the National Teacher of the Year. She specializes in working with refugees and immigrants, and will have a few words for US president Donald Trump when she visits the White House later this week: “When people in positions of power convey negative messages about immigrants and refugees, that, in a way, makes it acceptable to the average person to say terrible things.”

Time running out for Selkirk caribou

Emily Schwing at Northwest News Network reports on efforts to save the endangered South Selkirk herd of caribou, which ranges across northeast Washington, northern Idaho, and southeastern British Columbia. The herd has dwindled to just three known animals, raising concerns the herd could vanish.

Some Oregon trails to re-open after Eagle Creek fire

OPB reports that some of the trails closed by the Eagle Creek Fire on the Oregon side of the Columbia Gorge will re-open to hikers this summer, including Benson Bridge at Multnomah Falls, Starvation Creek Ridge Loop, and Herman Creek. Meanwhile, plans are in the works to create a pedestrian and bicycle lane on the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia, allowing safer access for people hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

Portland slam poet Anis Mojgani’s new book confronts grief

OPB has a great interview with Portland slam poet Anis Mojgani, a two-time National Poetry Slam champion. Mojgani has a new book out, In the Pocket of Small Gods, in which he confronts the grief surrounding the suicide of a friend and the breakup of his marriage.
“How does one work with sorrow while not eventually working for it?
Does Hermes work with death or for death?
All the people I see are deers. I keep my distance.
Wait for them to pass, or to become people again.”

That’s all today’s news and culture on a revolutionary May Day here in beautiful Cascadia. ✊  –Andrew Engelson

Photo credit:  cover of Field Theories courtesy of Nightboat Books,