News and resources for airport employees.
News and resources for airport employees.
Mark Tarutis, in a brown turtleneck, standing with hands in his pockets.
Mark Tarutis Leads with Kindness
Mark Tarutis (he/him) with Tender Loving Empire was nominated by his manager for creating a safe, welcoming environment at PDX:
“While Mark was working an early morning shift, a gentleman came in the store who was expressing some frustration. His flight had been canceled and he was feeling worried and afraid.
Mark noticed the passenger was distressed and wanted to help him remain calm and make it to his destination. Mark reassured him, then escorted the man to an airline desk to see if there were any flight options. The man was thankful to Mark for the assistance – he called him ‘his angel.’ 
This is a perfect example of the respect and kindness we strive for at PDX. Mark took it upon himself to make sure the customer felt take care of, and I could not be prouder of the humanity on display!”
Missed the last virtual awards ceremony? View the event recording or read about past winners on the PDX People website. You can also nominate an employee who embodies the PDX People values and serves as a shining example of great customer service for next quarter – submit a nomination now
Nominate a PDX Employee
Section of roof, Mt. Hood seen in the space underneath.
Photo by Glenn Woodman, Port of Portland
What's New with PDX Next: Main Bag Road, Roof Work and December Forum
Main Bag Road: The west lane of main bag road, adjacent to the former MU6 area, will close Dec. 19 – 21 and Dec. 27 – 29. The east lane will remain open.
Roof Work: As a reminder, there is ongoing work using tar on the roof cassettes. This may cause some odors during work hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. To help reduce any smells inside, crews installed air filters and adjusted air intake systems. Roof work is weather-dependent, which might affect hours and active days. This work will continue until late 2023.
December PDX Next Forum: Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 10:30 a.m. to get the inside scoop on construction at PDX. Jen Reynolds from the Port of Portland along with Pat Bifone and Caitlin Powell of Hoffman-Skanska will share the latest construction updates and answer your questions about PDX Next in just 30 minutes.
Rose Latu, Robert Sharp and Allison Tomasko
Rose Latu, Robert Sharp and Allison Tomasko
Badgeholders Win for Being AWARE
You already know how to be an AWARE badgeholder, but did you know you could win $50 just by helping keep PDX safe and secure? This quarter, 34 PDX People successfully passed challenge plays, and our three lucky drawing winners are:
Rose Latu, Delta Air Lines: Responded to a door alarm and took action.
Robert Sharp, SP Plus Corporation: Helped secure a malfunctioning gate and remained on scene until maintenance arrived. 
Allison Tomasko, Port of Portland: Successfully challenged an unauthorized escort. 
Want to be the next big winner? Global Security and Aviation Security teams are conducting challenge plays at PDX. If you pass one of these plays, you’ll be entered in a quarterly drawing for a $50 Visa gift card. The next raffle will be held in March. Do your part to maintain a safe environment at PDX and you could be both an AWARE badgeholder and a lucky winner!
Food truck at the RCC turnaround.
New Location for Roadway Food Trucks
As you likely know, several food trucks regularly visit PDX: Taqueria La Merced, Pidgin Hole and Alchemy Sandwich Co. The trucks are currently at the turnaround by the RCC Monday through Friday. There will also be a truck on the upper, outer roadway on Mondays and Fridays.
Taqueria La Merced serves up fresh Mexican food and operates at PDX Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pidgin Hole features an island-inspired Asian fusion menu and operates on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Alchemy Sandwich Co. offers a variety of hot sandwiches and operates on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All trucks have order ahead options, and you can keep track of who's where and when on the PDX People calendar. Be aware that occasional mechanical, staffing or weather issues may affect food truck hours.
Colorful portrait made with crocheted fiber.
Transformative Fiber Art Portraits by Jo Hamilton Wow PDX Travelers 
A dynamic temporary exhibition by Portland artist Jo Hamilton titled “Open Entanglement” is now on view post-security on Concourse D/E. This enthralling exhibition of six large-scale, hand-crocheted portraits transforms traditional genres, and celebrates the contemporary significance of the craft of crochet. The process of crochet is intimate, with long hours spent tying and unraveling countless knots to create each work. Each knot can be as distinct as a second in time or disappear into the whole, and it is this interplay between subject and material that animates the work.
At-home COVID-19 tests.
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Available Now
Right now, every home in the U.S. is eligible to once again order four at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free and orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them. As a reminder, if you or someone you know needs an in-person COVID-19 test, please don’t go to an emergency department – instead look for nearby Oregon or Washington testing locations.
Addressed and stamped envelopes.
Post Office Near Airport to Close, Open in New Location at Later Date
Before you panic about mailing holiday gifts, don't worry: The post office on Northeast Airport Way won't close its doors until Monday, Dec. 26. At that time, operations will be suspended until construction of their new facility at 12047 NE Glenn Widing Drive is complete. Customers don't need to visit a post office to conduct most transactions; you can buy stamps and ship packages with your local carrier or order stamps, print shipping labels and more on the USPS website, where you can also find other nearby retail locations.
Port of Portland Police office speaking into walkie talkie. Text reads "Leadership."
New Video Takes You Around the Airport with the Port of Portland Police
24 hours a day, the Port of Portland Police provide safety and security for everyone who works in and travels through our favorite airport. Check out this two-minute video that provides an inside look at what they do and the values they hold, then share it with friends and family who might be interested in joining this best-in-class Pacific Northwest police team.
Port electrician Shawn Standley working on an airfield sign.
Photo and caption by Brian Burk, Port of Portland
PDX in Pictures
Port of Portland electrician Shawn Standley brings an airfield sign back to life on a recent evening. Hundreds of signs and thousands of lights line the runways and taxiways, each with its own purpose and meaning. Port electricians and Airport Operations staff are on site 24/7 to make sure they work properly. The truck in the background is one of the electrical team's mobile workshops, affectionately known as "The Hog."
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