A veritable parade of rumor floats.

[June 8th, 2005] * Where's Sid? Multnomah County Judge Sid Galton, whom critics call the county's most vindictive, bullying judge ("Sid Vicious," WW, Jan. 19, 2005), has been out on disability leave with pay since January. And there's no sign of Galton's return to hear cases. Galton's clash with the state Judicial Fitness Commission over an instance in which he admitted bullying and swearing at a young female lawyer, then denied it, has sparked other allegations. Legal scuttlebutt is that a disability retirement could be in the offing, instead of other options such as court-ordered involuntary retirement or removal by the judicial commission.

* New information is raising questions about the safety of adding fluoride to tap water, as the Oregon Legislature moves closer to making fluoridation mandatory for most cities. The D.C.-based nonprofit Environmental Working Group has released a Harvard student's doctoral thesis that finds osteosarcoma -a rare bone cancer-occurs in young boys five to seven times as often when fluoride is present. Says Oregon environmental activist Brent Foster. "The Legislature may want to think about this."

* The state granted a permit last week to the city for its $28 million sump system, one of many efforts to deal with untreated sewer overflows into the Willamette River and Columbia Slough. But the plan to keep stormwater runoff out of Portland's combined sewer-drainage system still must overcome concerns expressed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Over the years, the city has quietly built 5,000 sumps that inject runoff into the ground. But some of those sumps may be too close to groundwater and wells. The city's plan to deal with those concerns is due July 15.

* Thomas Bruner, executive director of the Cascade AIDS Project, is considering a run next year for the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. Bruner says Commissioner Serena Cruz and others have encouraged him to run for her seat, which Cruz cannot do because of term limits. Bruner's take: "Because the issues the county works with are so closely aligned with my 20-year career in health and human services, I am listening to these people and considering their input."

* Multnomah Athletic Club member Craig Hartzman, president of Congregation Beth Israel, has successfully lobbied the posh club to finally allow membership benefits for same-sex couples . A valid marriage or civil-union certificate will do. Since the Oregon Supreme Court has invalidated Multnomah County marriage licenses given to same-sex couples, Hartzman and his partner, Jim John, hope to obtain a valid license soon from either Connecticut, Vermont or Canada. Hartzman worked for the change, in part, to show his children that a person "can make a change when things are wrong."

* A coupla festival tidbits as Portland enters parade season: Former Mayor Vera Katz, grand marshal this Saturday for the Rose Festival's Grand Floral Parade, will also be grand marshal June 19 for the city's Pride Parade for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folks. In other news about queens, it turns out the selection last week of a Rose Festival queen happened hours before the televised coronation. Judges, following a method begun in 1986, secretly vote after a final judging luncheon earlier in the day. The results remain confidential until the end of the coronation program.

A hearing is set for July 12 in ex-Evergreen Aviation Museum CEO William Schaub's lawsuit seeking $2.8 million in damages from the McMinnville museum for firing him in 2003. Representing Schaub in the Yamhill County lawsuit: Kelly Clark, the Portland lawyer who has led the fight against same-sex marriage in the state. Schaub alleges he was wrongfully terminated from the museum in 2003 and that museum founder Del Smith reneged on a lifetime job commitment and defamed Schaub to the museum board and employees. An attorney for the museum, C. Dana Hobart, calls Schaub's claims "without merit." The July 12 hearing is on the museum's motion to dismiss Schaub's claims.

State Rep. Jeff Merkley is banging on City Hall about the need for a li'l help between 82nd and 174th avenues. The East Portland Democrat says that 4.5-mile swath doesn't get the same attention to planning as the rest of the city. Merkley says he's gaining traction for his idea to set up a panel that would make recommendations to City Council on the East Portland scene of flag lots, apartments and the like.

Longtime Oregon Education Association Executive Director Joann Waller is stepping down from her post. Waller, who told the state teachers union board that news on Saturday, has been a somewhat controversial figure. And some say the timing of her resignation-as incoming president Larry Wolf prepares to take office next month-is not a coincidence. Wolf declined to comment, and Waller did not return a call from Murmurs by press time.