Today, “06880” turns 4.
When I hurled that 1st post into cyberspace on March 6, 2009 — click here for that trip back in time — I thought I had a few things to say about Westport.
My biggest fear was not finding enough material to fulfill my goal: posting once a day.
I shouldn’t have worried.
“06880” helps Westport weather in good times and bad.
I did not foresee windstorms, hurricanes and blizzards. Great Cakes. Church Street. Newtown.
I knew there were amazing Westporters, doing incredible things. I didn’t realize I’d find so many of them. They paint and preach and run 86 flights up the Empire State Building. They run for office, and run our town.
They drive too. Though not very well.
Four years ago, I envisioned an ongoing “06880” conversation. I hoped there would be some interesting back-and-forth. I had no idea dudes like The Dude would wade in with such gusto, commenting and opining and inciting near riots.
It’s been a wild ride. In 4 years I’ve posted over 2,600 times — an average of well over twice a day.
Commenters on “06880” have called this man a socialist and a bully.. Whatever.
You’ve made more than 30,000 comments — an average of more than 10 per post.
For me, it’s a labor of love.
And time.
As “06880” has grown, so have the hours I spend on it.
There’s writing, sure. But also interviewing, researching, responding to comments (public and private), taking and sizing and framing photos, and scouring the web for appropriate (and occasionally inappropriate) graphics.
I spend a few bucks, too. I pay to keep “06880” ad-free. I pay for domain mapping. I pay for photo-editing software.
So, once a year — on my anniversary — I put out my tin cup.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting “06880.”
A suggested donation to “06880.”
Am I worth $1 a month? $1 a week? Perhaps (my choice!) $1 a day.
If you think “06880″ deserves 10 cents a day, that’s only $36.50. (If you think it’s worth more — and you can afford more — well, who am I to argue?)
I hope if “06880” has ever
- made you laugh, cry, think or wonder
- spurred you to go to an event, read a book, try a restaurant or patronize a store
- kept you up to date in a blizzard, hurricane, windstorm or power outage
- helped publicize your event, book, appearance or concert
- published your photo
- delivered breaking news
- opened a window on Westport’s history, helped you think about its future, introduced you to someone in town you never knew, or helped you look at someone or someplace in a new way
- given you a voice in the comments section
— you will considering tossing something my way.
Can’t we all just get along?
Republicans: Think of me as a small (ho ho) businessman doing his best.
Democrats: Help a non-union worker get some benefits.
Libertarians: You won’t find a “Comments” section like ours anywhere else in the world.
Thanks for 4 great years. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, whether anyone sends an anniversary gift or not.
But it would be nice.
You can donate by PayPal: click here, then click “Transfer” and select “Send Someone Money” from the drop-down menu, and enter this email address: dwoog@optonline.net. You don’t even need a PayPal account!
Checks (or cash, if you’re paranoid I’ll find out who you are) may be mailed to: Dan Woog, 301 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880. Put “06880″ on the memo line. It won’t do anything for the IRS, but it may help you remember at tax time why you sent me something.